Ensuring continuity of care after release from prison

Howard’s article on prisoner health paints a timely description of the medical situation in Britain’s jails.1 It coincides with a new, reforming prisons minister and plans for early release of 5500 non-violent offenders. To allow for time to deploy the staff needed to supervise former prisoners, early release commences in September.2 This offers an opportunity to prevent substantial avoidable harm.Prisoners have a higher incidence of chronic illness than the general population.3 Many are taking prescribed medication or undergoing secondary care. As independent doctors, my colleagues and I regularly examine people after release. Many don’t have prescriptions or experience interruptions of necessary care. The prisons and probations ombudsman recently published results of their investigations of deaths among former prisoners within two weeks of release.4 In all, 137 former prisoners died within two weeks of release over a 15 month period from suicide, drug overdoses, and “natural causes.” Some of these deaths…
Read Original Article: Ensuring continuity of care after release from prison »