Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith and Chiswick)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, (a) what is the intended timeline for publication of the Older Prisoners Strategy and (b) what engagement his department intends to undertake with end of life care providers relating to the health care of older prisoners to inform the development of this strategy.
Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Ministry of Justice is taking forward the development of an Older Prisoners Strategy, in line with the recommendation of the recent Independent Sentencing Review. As part of this work the Department is engaging closely with NHS England, health and social care partners, third sector organisations, academics and scrutiny bodies. This includes engagement with providers, organisations and practitioners involved in end of life and palliative care, alongside consideration of frameworks such as the Dying Well in Custody Charter. This engagement is helping to inform how services can better meet the needs of older prisoners, including those approaching the end of their lives.
A decision on publication of the strategy will be taken in due course.