Ombudsman warns of prison deaths as mental health bed shortage worsens
The Ombudsman says mentally unwell and intellectually disabled people are increasingly being imprisoned instead of hospitalised due to insufficient mental health beds.
The Ombudsman has raised concerns that a shortage of mental health beds is forcing mentally unwell and intellectually disabled people into the prison system rather than appropriate care facilities. The warning suggests that without action, more deaths in prison will occur as a result of this gap in the health system.
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More will die in prison if mental health bed shortage continues – Ombudsman
Mentally unwell and intellectually disabled people are increasingly being imprisoned rather than hospitalised due to the bed shortage.