Forensic Psychiatric Service

Introduction

Castle Peak Hospital is the only mental hospital providing forensic psychiatric services in Hong Kong. The Department of Forensic Psychiatry came into service in 1995, mainly provides full range of clinical assessment and treatment to psychiatric patients with criminal involvement. In addition, the non-offender patients who are exceptionally violent are also likely to be referred to forensic psychiatric service for both advice and treatment.

Scope of Services

In-patient Service

The Department of Forensic Psychiatry operates one male and one female forensic admission wards for the provision of in-patient service mainly for patients involved in criminal offences and require hospitalisation for observation, investigation and treatment, and patients referred to Castle Peak Hospital for further rehabilitation upon their discharge from Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre of the Correctional Services Department.

The Community Reintegration Unit (CRU) was set up to strengthen the rehabilitation services to patients with forensic background.

Visiting Psychiatric Service

The medical team of the Department of Forensic Psychiatry is responsible for the provision of visiting psychiatric service to Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre and Rehabilitation Group of Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre of the Correctional Services Department. It mainly provides psychiatric assessment and treatment for those cases referred there by courts or law enforcing bodies, and also for the mentally disordered offenders detained there.

Out-patient Service

The Department provides out-patient service at two forensic out-patient clinics at Tuen Mun Mental Health Centre and Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Psychiatric Out-patient Department. Three types of clientele served include:

1. Follow-up cases previously under the care of the Forensic Psychiatry Team;
2. Cases referred by courts for psychiatric or psychological reports;
3. Cases referred by other psychiatric disciplines, social services, probation services or other law enforcing bodies.

Forensic Community Services

The Forensic Community Services aim to provide professional support to clients prior to their release from Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre of the Correctional Services Department till their post-release follow-up at the psychiatric out-patient centre.

Pamphlet for Download

• Department of Forensic Psychiatry