Professor Louis Appleby will be the first National Clinical Director for Health and Criminal Justice it was announced recently.

The move reflects an increased focus on improving the mental health of offenders and develops responsibilities from Professor Appleby's current work as National Clinical Director for Mental Health Services.

Professor Appleby will champion the Government's action plan ‘Improving Health, Supporting Justice', which set out measures to get health and criminal justice services working together more effectively. It aims to address health and social care problems as early as possible in a person's contact with the criminal justice system and to develop more effective interventions for offenders. This will be achieved by working closely with the cross government Health and Criminal Justice Programme Board.

His deputy, Dr Hugh Griffiths, will take on responsibility for wider mental health issues as an interim appointment to ensure that momentum is not lost in the implementation of ‘New Horizons', the long-term strategy to improve mental health services across the country.

Find out more on the DH website.

15:43:53  2010-03-30