Re-designing how prisoners request and access health services

Globally, 10.74 million people are in prison - as pre-trial/remand prisoners or convicted and sentenced. A prison sentence protects the community, punishes the offender, and deters similar offences, with rehabilitation a critical component of the criminal justice system. As well as addressing the factors that contribute to re-offending, entering prison provides an opportunity to access healthcare and address health issues. However, the problems in prisoners’ lives are complicated. Compared to the general population, people in prison are often from economic and socially disadvantaged backgrounds, more likely to use illicit drugs, have lower levels of literacy and poorer physical and mental health.

Good health is key to successful rehabilitation – and prison can provide the space and time to address health needs. However, the delivery of healthcare in prison is also not straight forward, due to security regimes and differences between prison and healthcare systems and cultures.