Prisoners: Medical Treatments

Question

People in prison are entitled to the same standard and range of health and social care services, as they would receive in the community. A number of mechanisms are deployed by healthcare and pharmacy teams within prison settings to ensure continuity of access to medication. A robust medicines reconciliation will be in place, usually within 24 hours of arriving at a prison, to ensure the healthcare provider is aware of what medication the patient is currently taking. Medication will be re-prescribed within the prison healthcare setting at the earliest opportunity and medication will be either supplied direct to the patient for their own management or will be administered on a dose by dose basis at a treatment hatch.

Minor ailment protocols allow healthcare staff to supply low level medication for the management of simple health conditions. Patients can request these as needed and will be assessed by the healthcare team for suitability. Patient Group Directions allow the healthcare team the opportunity to administer or supply prescription-only medication for a group of patients, within strict inclusion criteria. Medication should be supplied on release and transfer to ensure continuity. Prescriptions will also be available for patients on release, to take to their nominated community pharmacy, or to access medication in urgent circumstances while they reside within a prison establishment.