Provision of health and social care in the adult prison estate

Provision of health and social care in the adult prison estate

Inquiry5

The Fifth Senedd Health, Social Care and Sport Committee held an inquiry into health and social care provision in Welsh prisons.

While prisons are not devolved, the healthcare system is, and the Welsh Government has a clear set of responsibilities in providing health and social care services to prisoners held in Wales. The Committee’s inquiry focused on Welsh prisoners’ experiences of health and social care services in the adult prison estate.

The Fifth Senedd Committee published its report in March 2021. The Welsh Government responded in August 2021.

The Sixth Senedd Health and Social Care Committee wrote to the Minister for Health and Social Services on 8 July 2022 to seek an update on the Fifth Senedd Committee’s recommendations. The Minister responded on 2 September 2022.

Background

The overall responsibility for the development of prison healthcare in the public sector prisons in Wales rests with the Welsh Government. Accountability for the planning of health services for prisoners is held by NHS Wales, but this responsibility can only be exercised in partnership with Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). At a local level, Prison Health Partnership Boards, jointly chaired by Local Health Boards and the Governors of the prisons, have responsibility for the governance of prison health services.

The exception is for HMP Parc. Primary healthcare services are funded and commissioned via the Ministry of Justice under a private contract with G4S. NHS Wales is responsible for the commissioning of secondary/tertiary care services.

The Welsh prison estate

The prisoner population in Wales is male only and was 4,291 at the end of April 2018.  Prisoners are held across five sites in South Wales and at HMP Berwyn in North Wales; each prison having a different profile, function and security category. There are no female prisons in Wales. The nearest female establishments are HMP Eastwood Park in Gloucestershire and HMP Styal in Cheshire. HMP Parc is mainly an adult prison, though it also has a Young Offenders Institution (YOI) where most of the 18-24 year old prisoners in Wales are held.  The Health Board in which the prison is located is responsible for providing healthcare services. The relevant Health Boards are: 

  • Aneurin Bevan Health Board – HM Prisons Usk & Prescoed
  • Monmouthshire Cardiff & Vale University Health Board – HM Prison Cardiff
  • Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board – HM Prison Swansea
  • Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board – HM Prison Berwyn

Each prison has its own healthcare facilities.  GPs, nurses and healthcare assistants work on site in each prison.

Evidence sessions

 

Evidence session

Date, Agenda and Minutes

Transcript

Video

1. Dr Robert Jones

Dr Robert Jones, Wales Governance Centre, Cardiff University

27 March 2019

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2. Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons, and Social Care Wales

Rhys Jones, Head of Escalation and Enforcement, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales

Tania Osborne, Head of Health and Social Care Inspection, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons

Gillian Baranski, Chief Inspector, Care Inspectorate Wales

03 October 2019

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3. Prisons and Probation Ombudsman

Sue McAllister, Prisons and Probation Ombudsman

 

13 November 2019

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4. Welsh Local Government Association and Association of Directors of Social Services

Jackie Davies, Head of Adult Services in Bridgend, Association of Directors of Social Services,

Cllr Huw David, Welsh Local Government Association Spokesperson for Health and Social Care and Leader of Bridgend County Borough Council

21 November 2019

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5. Local Health Boards

Rob Smith, Area Director, East, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

Rob Lightburn, Deputy Head of Healthcare at HMP Berwyn, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

Alan Lawrie, Director of Primary, Community and Mental Health, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board

Carmel Donovan, Integrated Communities Service Manager, Cwm Taf University Health Board

Alison Ryland, Senior Nurse / Healthcare Manager, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

Dr Mair Strinati, Clinical Director of Vulnerable Groups, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

Dr Anjula Mehta, Interim Associate Medical Director, Swansea Bay University Health Board

Emily Dibdin, Clinical Lead for Secure Environments and Substance Misuse, Swansea Bay University Health Board

21 November 2019

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6. Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service

Chris Jennings, Executive Director Wales, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service

Amanda Corrigan, Governor of HM Prison Swansea

Janet Wallsgrove, Governor of HM Prison Parc

9 January 2020

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7. Welsh Government

Vaughan Gething AM, Minister for Health and Social Services

Matt Downton, Head of Mental Health and Vulnerable Groups, Welsh Government

Alistair Davey, Deputy Director, Enabling People, Welsh Government

29 January 2020

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Business type: Committee Inquiry

Reason considered: Senedd Business;

Status: Complete

First published: 20/02/2019

Documents

Background papers

Consultations