Prisons: Coronavirus

(asked on 13th May 2020) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the accessibility of (a) physical and (b) mental healthcare provision in prisons and other custodial facilities due to (i) staff absence and (ii) redeployment of healthcare resources; and what assessment he has made of the level of reported anxiety among prisoners due to extended period of confinement to cells during the outbreak.


Answered by
Lucy Frazer Portrait
Lucy Frazer
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
This question was answered on 22nd May 2020

The Government takes the health of prisoners very seriously. NHS England commission healthcare in prisons and the Ministry of Justice is working with health partners to continually monitor the health and wellbeing of people in prisons and other custodial facilities during COVID-19. COVID-19 presents a unique set of challenges that we must address to keep prisoners safe. To mitigate these, we are operating a National Response Model in prisons, and working very closely with public health authorities to ensure our approach is based on the best scientific advice available.

Detail regarding the redeployment of healthcare staff and resources is not held by the MoJ and should be requested from NHS England. However, people in prison continue to be given access to services including health services, telephone contact with loved ones and, where possible, time in the open air. We are also taking further action to support the mental and physical wellbeing of people in custody.

We continue to make the Samaritans phone service available, and are working with the Samaritans to ensure that the Listener peer support scheme continues to function effectively. To address anxiety and boredom, we are also providing distraction packs and in cell activities and providing time in the open air where possible. We are continuing to provide care and support to people at risk of self-harm or suicide through ACCT (Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork) case management. For those with severe mental health issues, we are doing everything we can to ensure that the process for transfer to hospital continues in as normal a way as possible.

Measures are also being taken to protect prisoners with particularly vulnerable physical health from COVID-19. Prisoners identified in accordance with NHS guidance as being ‘extremely vulnerable’ to COVID-19 are being proactively considered for release from custody under existing Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) provisions. Where a prisoner falling within this category is considered not suitable for release, they will continue to be appropriately shielded within custody.

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