Physical Healthcare In Prison
People in prison are generally in poorer health compared to the general population. They are considered in ‘old age’ 10 years earlier than the general population. Not only are people going into prison with worse health than the general population but the prison system itself can create and exacerbate health problems.
People in prison should receive equivalent healthcare as outside prison, yet speaking to people in prison it is clear this is not always happening. Nacro surveyed over a hundred people who have recently left prison about their experiences of healthcare in prison. The results are stark, they show people left in pain or without vital medication they need for ongoing health conditions such as diabetes, urgent medical appointments cancelled, DIY dentistry and people taking illegal substances because of delays in getting prescription or being denied medication. Our survey found that some people are leaving prison with injuries or health conditions because they aren’t getting the medical attention they need.
Access to healthcare is important in reducing reoffending and ensuring people can rebuild their lives and contribute to their communities when they are released.
When I was initially on the induction wing, I was left in my cell for 23 hours a day without my blood sugars being monitored (Jessica is diabetic) and made to go through unsupervised medication withdrawal."Read Jessica's story here
Nacro Physical Healthcare Survey key findings:
- Almost half (43%) said they did not get the treatment they needed from the medical professionals they saw
- Three quarters of people (75%) said they were aware of people not able to get the medication they needed whilst in prison and 65% said that they saw people using other people’s medication. 64% said that they knew people who used illegal substances because they couldn’t get the medication they needed
- 60% said they had a longer period of pain and discomfort because they did not get the treatment they needed, and 12% said that because they did not get the treatment they needed they were then not able to work when they were released from prison
- A third of people (34%) who reported they had appointments at a hospital outside prison during their sentence were not able to attend the appointment
- One third of people (34%) were aware of people who had resorted to doing dentistry on themselves or others because they were unable to see a dentist
- 40% waited for a month or longer for a GP appointment, and a further 7% said they never got an appointment
- More than one in three (38%) waited longer than three months for a dentist appointment, with a further 24% saying they never got an appointment
- Over a third of people (35%) who needed to see an optician said they never got an appointment
Read our full report on physical healthcare in prison
This is the third in a series of briefings written together with Nacro’s Justice ExChange that examine the practical steps that can be taken to support people in contact with the criminal justice system to create better futures. The series includes practical and cost-effective steps which aim to ensure that prisons better prepare people for release, and provide them with the skills, training, and support they need to thrive and create better lives on the outside.
Solutions to improve the physical health of people in prison
Improving the health of people in prison is essential to ensuring that when people return to their communities they have the best chance of creating positive futures. Prison offers a critical opportunity for tackling health inequality in a way that can deliver benefits to people in prison and the places they return to. In addition to providing the right treatment, screening and advice, we must ensure that prisons are not the cause of health problems, nor should they contribute to a deterioration in someone’s pre-existing health issues, either because of a poor prison environment or difficulties accessing treatment and support.
Our recommendations to Government, the Ministry of Justice, HMPPS and NHS England come under three broad categories:
1. Tackling the overuse of imprisonment
2. Limiting the impact of imprisonment on physical health
3. Overcoming barriers to accessing healthcare services
You can read the detail of how we suggest they achieve these recommendations in our report here.
A Nacro Freedom of Information Act request found for that in the five years from 2019/20 to 2023/24, there have been 187 successful claims for compensation against the NHS in relation to clinical negligence by people in prison. This cost over £14 million.
Why is the problem with physical healthcare in prison
Helen Berresford, Nacro’s Director of External Engagement, explains why Nacro is looking into the issue of physical healthcare and what we discovered in our survey of over a 100 recent prison leavers.
People in prison talk about their experiences of healthcare
Member's of the Nacro's Justice ExChange talk through their experiences of physical healthcare in prison, failures to get the help they need and problems with medication.
Listen to Ian's story about breaking his leg in prison
Listen to Keith's story about problems with medications
Read our other reports with the Justice ExChange, and about how the group works
Work and Wages in Prison Report
This briefing looks at work and wages in prison and the impact those can have on people’s ability to turn their lives around on release.
Mental Health in Prison Report
This briefing examines the level and range of mental health problems in prison and the support currently available in prison and the impact all this can have on people’s ability to turn their lives around on release.
Service User Involvement at Nacro
We believe that the people we support should be genuine partners in everything we do, whether that’s shaping the services we deliver, or influencing the campaigns we run.