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'Ripper' hospital faces closure

HIGH-SECURITY mental hospitals housing Britain's most dangerous patients could be closed under secret plans being considered by ministers.

The report, by the High Security Psychiatric Services Commissioning Board which was leaked to BBC1's Panorama, suggests that the hospitals - Broadmoor, Rampton and Ashworth could be replaced by six to eight regional high security units around the country.

Special hospitals, which house patients such as the Moors murderer, Ian Brady, and the Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe, have come under scrutiny recently. Last year an inquiry was launched into Ashworth after allegations of pornography, paedophilia and drug abuse in the Personality Disorder Unit. A new management structure is now in place at the hospital.

The report, seen by The Independent, says that as many as half the patients presently housed do not need to be in a high-security units but are not able to move on because of the lack of suitable alternatives.

At present, there are 1,520 patients in the special hospitals but the board estimates that the true need is between 850 and 1000, with other patients suitable for medium secure units or other accommodation.

"This excessive restriction of so many patients is the greatest single shortcoming of the present arrangements and putting it right must be the forensic services' first priority whilst maintaining the safety of the public," it says.

Full integration of high-security services with other mental health services in the NHS requires a "clear commitment to end the present concentration of the services," it concludes, otherwise they will remain "geographically and professionally isolated".

The report also stresses that alternative services for women, who presently make up 200 of the patients is an "urgent priority" and suggests that a single unit serving the whole country is the best option. A single site for patients with learning disabilities should also be set up.

High-security facilities and medium-secure units currently cost pounds 268m per year. The report estimates that to break the hospitals down into smaller units would cost between pounds 14m and pounds 30m more.

At present, the special hospitals are directly answerable to the Secretary of State for Health, but the board suggests that they should be managed in future by NHS trusts.

Noting that the changes could prove controversial, the report adds: "The wider public also have a legitimate interest in these services, and it is important to ensure their concerns about safety and other matters are fully addressed including their confidence in the changes proposed."

The Department of Health confirmed yesterday that a review of special hospitals had been finished and ministers were considering recommendations although no decisions had yet been reached.

Panorama: Out of Sight, Out of Mind is on BBC1 at 10pm tonight.

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