Prison Health
Advisory Planning Group

The Cardiff Health, Social Care and Well Being Strategy 2008-2011 "Working Towards a Healthy City" identifies the health of prisoners at HMP Cardiff as one of its priorities.

 

Mission Statement

The Prison Health Partnership Board and APG will ensure the efficient and effective joint planning of agreed health services at HMP Cardiff.

 

Key Achievements 2005-2008:

  • Set the parameters and rules of engagement between the Prison Health Service and NHS to develop an effective partnership based on mutual priorities, whilst recognising and addressing cultural issues/differences between the NHS and prison healthcare service.
  • Clarified the individual financial baselines prior to transfer in April 2006.
  • Changed prescribing practices within the prison for treating prisoners with substance misuse problems within the substance misuse detoxification unit, by utilising appropriate treatment regimes.
  • Provided a comprehensive sexual health service provided by a skill mixed Genito-Urinary workforce with the use of Health Advisor sessions resulting in reduced waiting times within the service.
  • Identified opportunities to develop services within existing and growth funding sources, including securing increased funding for in reach mental health services.
  • Minimised the impact of the prison regime and the Prison Service's Performance Improvement (PIP) targets so that they do not compromise individual health needs.
  • Developed a workforce plan for the HMP Cardiff and Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust health care staff. This resulted in the recruitment of a number of 'B' grade staff to release qualified nurse time in line with workforce planning within the NHS, to provide a primary care mental health service.
  • Used an external consultant to carry out an extensive health needs analysis of HMP Cardiff prisoners and to evaluate the current services available to prisoners for the prevention, detection, harm reduction, treatment and amelioration for the key health problems, as well as the underlying social and behavioural causes.
  • Secured a new provider for Medical Services following a national tendering exercise.
  • Secured funding to double the previous dentistry service via Personal Dental Services (PDS) funding, and re-tendering for the service following the resignation of the previous Dental Practitioner. Introduction of additional dentistry sessions has reduced the waiting time for access to the service for those with acute symptoms.
  • Built a new clinical unit within HMP Cardiff comprising a 20 bed in-patient area on the ground floor, mostly as single cells, as well as one negative pressure cell for the management of tuberculosis. There are also auxiliary clinical rooms, primary care and day care areas, dental suites, a pharmacy, treatment areas and a variety of administrative rooms. The new clinical environment will provides an excellent clinical facility to allow new models of care, as well as service gaps, to be addressed.

 

Priorities and Key Strategic Aims 2008-2011:

  1. To promote health improvement utilising the WHO Health in Prisons Project approach to health promotion within a prison, to provide a framework for health improvement.
  2. The Prison Health Partnership Board will aim to reduce inequalities by ensuring the provision of accessible health care services in line with the recommendations of the 2007 Health Needs Assessment.
  3. To commission the new health care facility and explore opportunities to offer new health care service models within the prison.
  4. To implement the Welsh Assembly Government's mental health care pathway.
  5. To develop a comprehensive substance misuse care pathway incorporating all elements of service delivery within HMP Cardiff and follow up care within the community.
  6. To develop a chronic disease management strategy for the prison in line with local community pathways for diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke and chronic obstructive airways disease.
  7. To update the Prison's Communicable Disease Policy to include the recommendations of the Health Needs Assessment report.
  8. To develop interim Information Technology solutions to support the delivery of modernised health care services.
  9. To develop an effective and comprehensive tobacco control programme within the prison, as part of the implementation of the WHO Health in Prisons Project.
  10. To implement the workforce plan for the prison and secure appropriately qualified staff to deliver the above services.
  11. To utilise the recently developed performance framework to evaluate the impact of health care services on the health of prisoners within HMP Cardiff.

 

Partners on the Prison Health Partnership Board & Advisory Planning Group

 

Key Documents

 

Other Web Links

 

Contact

Director of Nursing
Cardiff Local Health Board 
Trenewydd
Fairwater Road
Llandaff
Cardiff CF5 2LD
enquiries@cardifflhb.wales.nhs.uk
healthalliance@cardiff.gov.uk