Primary Health Care Research & Development

Table of Contents - 2008 - Volume 9, Issue 02  

Research

A survey of primary and specialised health care provision to prisons in England and Wales

Charles S. Cornforda1 c1, James Masona1, Katie Buchanana2, David Reevesa3, Evangelos Kontopantelisa3, Bonnie Sibbalda3, Helen Thornton-Jonesa4, Mark Williamsona5 and Lenny Baera6

a1 School for Health, University of Durham, Queen’s Campus, Wolfson Research Institute, Stockton-on-Tees, UK

a2 School of Dentistry, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

a3 National Primary Care Research and Development Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

a4 Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Hull, Hull, UK

a5 HMP Hull and The Quays, Hull PCT and Hull York Medical School, Hull, UK

a6 Department of Geography, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK

Abstract

Background Prison health care in England, including primary care, is now incorporated into the National Health Service; the impetus for the change is in part due to concern about standards of health care within prisons. The demographic characteristics and health status of patients within prisons are relatively well understood, as are the problems faced by health care professionals. Less is known about current health care provision.

Aims To describe the organisation of primary health care and specialised services in prisons and compare services available to different types of prison.

Method A piloted questionnaire was sent to the governors of all prisons in England and Wales for completion by the health care manager.

Findings Completed questionnaires were received from 122 (89%) of 138 prisons. The survey showed a low use of information technology (IT). Problems were reported with the recruitment and retention of general nurses in more than 50% of prisons. Prisoners in category A/B (higher security) prisons had available to them a greater range of health care services compared with those in other prisons. The results suggest that provision of services for chronic diseases and improvements in IT are needed. Problems with the recruitment and retention of general nurses need addressing. The reasons why lower-security prisoners are receiving a narrower range of specialised health care services compared with higher-security prisoners need justifying.

(Received March 2007)

(Accepted January 2008)

Key words

  • chronic disease;
  • delivery of health care;
  • prison health;
  • quality of health care

Correspondence:

c1 Address for correspondence: Charles S. Cornford, School for Health, University of Durham, Queen’s Campus, Wolfson Research Institute, University Boulevard, Stockton-on-Tees, TS17 6BH, UK. Email: charles.cornford@durham.ac.uk

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