Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 17
17
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 61
Pandemic restrictions severely impacted prisoners' mental health, increasing future service demand.
Conclusion
Prisoners have shared the anxieties of the general population about possibly becoming ill themselves with covid-19 or their loved ones becoming ill. This has been combined with the most severe restrictions on their daily lives, going beyond those experienced by the general population. For example, family contact was restricted, and in circumstances where enhanced digital access was not available, the restriction on family access would potentially have exacerbated the effect on Mental health in prison 29 prisoners’ mental health. We recognise and understand that the restrictions on prisoners during the period of the pandemic will have saved numerous lives, but, we are concerned about the impact of the pandemic on prisoners’ mental health and how well prepared HMPPS and NHS will be for the increase in the need for mental healthcare services as a result.
Government Response Summary
The government stated NHS England and NHS Improvement are developing guidance for Integrated Care Systems to manage the continuity of care pathways for the prison population and will incorporate the interface between prison healthcare and parole into a review of the mental health service specification.
Paragraph Reference:
61
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
In the recent White Paper, Working Together to Improve Health and Social Care for All,15 the Government set out its ambition for every part of England to be covered by an Integrated Care System. NHS England and NHS Improvement is developing guidance to support Integrated Care Systems to fulfil their responsibilities for the continuity of care pathways of the prison population. This will encompass the needs of the prison population both pre and post custody. It is also intended that the interface between prison healthcare, the parole board and preparation to ensure continuity of care upon release will be incorporated into the review of the mental health service specification.