Health: Prisoners

(asked on 22nd January 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the findings on healthcare provision of the report by Inquest, Deaths in prison, published 22 January 2019, if he will take steps to improve the (a) physical and (b) mental wellbeing of prisoners.


Answered by
Nadine Dorries Portrait
Nadine Dorries
This question was answered on 29th January 2020

We are working with partners across Government to ensure offenders receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

The National Health Service is leading on work to divert people away from the prison system and into community care, and, through its NHS Long Term Plan, it is committed to all people receiving a physical and mental health screen on entry to prison and a follow up appointment within seven days or sooner. The NHS England revised mental health and substance misuse service specifications in 2017 introduced a trauma-informed approach to care which is also reflected in the revised health and justice primary care specification due to be published in the spring. New guidance on the transfer and remission of adult prisoners to mental health hospitals is expected shortly to further support people with serious mental ill health.

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