A review is underway lookingat unescorted leave of absence for restricted patients from the state hospital.The review will consider the current decision-makingprocess in respect of unescorted leave from the State Hospital including:the arrangements for making suchdecisions under the mental health legislation, including the roles and responsibilitiesof ministers, officials, the psychiatric adviser and professional advisers;the arrangements in place betweenprofessional advisers to assess risk and suitability for unescorted leave;the number of decisions thatare taken each year to grant unescorted leave and the number of occasions on whichrecommendations of unescorted leave are rejected;a comparison with arrangementsin England and Wales, andoptions for varying the currentarrangements and an assessment of such options and the status quo in terms of theparamount importance of public safety and confidence in the arrangements and theneed to offer appropriate care to assist those with mental health problems to returnto and reintegrate into the community where appropriate.The review will be conductedby the Health Department with recommendations being offered by me to the First Minister.We await receipt...