Healthcare
What kind of healthcare can prisoners expect when they are in prison?The healthcare that a prisoner receives should be based on individual need, however the reality is that wide variations occur from prison to prison and services that are currently available in one prison may not be available in another. Prisoners should receive the same care as they would receive outside prison.Each prison has a different sort of healthcare department which is often due to different levels of funding in the local NHS trust and differing local services. Prisons may have a differing health service according to type of prison and previous ways in which health services have been met. These will continue to improve with the developing partnership with Primary Care Trusts.
How does the prison know if a prisoner has health problems?
On reception to prison, each prisoner has a health screening when they are asked questions about their health and any medication that they may be on. If the prisoner requires medical treatment that cannot be delivered on the prison wing then they maybe transferred to a special location in the prison. A minority of mental disorders are detected at this stage. Prisoners with mental health problems should be detected at this stage and referred for appropriate assessment and treatment.
What if you are worried about the mental state of a prisoner?
If you are worried about a prisoner who has mental health problems you need to encourage them to seek help in prison. You can tell them or talk to a member of the Healthcare team or alternatively each prisoner has a Personal Officer assigned to them and prisoners can talk to them. Some prisons have Listeners - prisoners trained and supported by the Samaritans - who will listen in confidence and are available 24 hours a day. They can also call the Samaritans, as most prisons have a direct confidential telephone link which can be used any time and cannot be listened to. Prisoners can often ask for a phone which goes directly through to the Samaritans and which they can use in private.
Prisoners can also ask to see a member of the Independent Monitoring Board or ask to speak to a prison chaplain.
If you think a prisoner may be at risk of suicide or self harm, then you can phone the prison and ask to speak to the Duty Governor. If you are unsure about this, phone the Prisoners' Families Helpline on 0808 808 2003 and we will phone the prison on your behalf.
What if the Prisoner does not want the treatment offered in Prison?
Prisoners should have the same rights as those outside in that they can accept or decline treatment and their consent is needed in the same way as those in the community.If they don't want treatment then the prisoner should write to the medical officer and the governor stating this. The exception to this is if staff feel that the prisoner is a threat to the safety to him/herself, or to the staff, and that treatment is necessary and the individual unable to give consent. Staff need to explore whether the treatment is required and approaches made to see if the prisoner needs to be treated under the Mental Health Act. Prisoners are entitled to see their medical notes unless it is detrimental to the prisoner or others to do so.
What if a prisoner requires treatment?
Physical ailments are dealt with by a member of healthcare team which includes a doctor/GP. If necessary the patient will be transferred to the healthcare facility/medical wing or in some cases maybe transferred to hospital out for medical treatment. If a prisoner needs to stay in hospital usually a prison officer will accompany him/her and remain throughout their stay.
What if the prisoner is on medication?
Some medication may be kept by the prisoner, but other medication will have to be kept by prison staff and given out at the appointed time.
What if the prisoner was using illegal drugs prior to imprisonment?
Every prison offers some support for people with drug problems, often through partnerships with specialist drug services. Some prisons have their own rehabilitation programmes, again often run by specialist organisations. Under certain circumstances prisoners may be transferred to another prison if the treatment they need is not available where they are. The Prison Service has set up CARATs (Counselling Assessment Referral Advice Throughcare services), which aim to offer help to every prisoner who is identified as having a drug problem. Each prison has a designated CARAT team.
What if the prisoner is not happy with the medical treatment he/she has received?
They will need to go through the normal complaints procedure. In the first instance the prisoner will need to fill in a complaints form. If the prisoner is not happy then they can appeal. If the prisoner is still not satisfied then they can complain to the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (although not for clinical complaints).
Forms are available from the wing office and members of Independent Monitoring Board will be able to help with forms and the filling in of forms for all complaints if necessary.
The address for the Ombudsman's office is:
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
Ashley House
2 Monck Street
London SW1P 2BQ
In serious cases of negligence or if there is a possibility of legal action, the prisoner can contact the Prisoners' Advice Service by mail or phone and leave a message (there is an answering machine out of hours) and they will contact you by mail.
Prisoner's Advice Service
Unit 210 Hatton Square
16/16A Baldwins Gardens
London EC1N 7RJ
Tel: 020 7253 3323
Local call rate: 0845 430 8923
January 2004