Thousands of offenders in England to get health support at probation meetings | Prisons and probation
Nearly 4,000 offenders in England will benefit from targeted health care sessions during probation appointments as part of a new pilot programme.
Offenders are much more likely to have poor physical or mental health or addiction problems, making them more likely to reoffend.
A. last report Research by England’s chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, found that half of offenders on probation smoke, most have drug or alcohol addiction problems and the majority have poor mental health. They were also less likely to be screened for prostate, breast, lung or cervical cancer.
Many offenders do not receive timely care because they are not registered with a GP; This means they typically only seek emergency care and attend A&E for any physical or mental health problem when their symptoms become acute.
Under a joint pilot between the probation service and the NHS in England, up to 4,000 offenders will receive targeted health support during probation appointments. NHS clinicians and nurses will work directly from probation offices and attend appointments between offenders and probation staff.
James Timpson, minister for prisons, probation and reducing reoffending, said the pilot aimed to tackle “the cycle of crime driven by untreated mental health problems or addiction to drink or drugs”.
He said: “Now a nurse or clinician can sit in the room during probation appointments, spot warning signs earlier and quickly refer offenders to treatment or mental health care. This is a game-changing development. It will enable offenders to be quickly referred to services designed to directly address the issues fueling their offending, reduce the number of costly missed appointments and help reduce reoffending.”
The scheme is being piloted in Cambridge, Middlesbrough, Ilfracombe and Hammersmith. Health centres, based in probation offices, will help offenders register with a GP, attend cancer screening appointments and organize referrals to other health services where necessary.
Dr Dianne Addei, director of improving inequalities in healthcare at NHS England, said: “We know that people released from prison often have poorer health outcomes, and evidence shows that the quicker you intervene the more likely you are to see improvement, so this new plan is a vital step to improve people’s health.”
Minister for Women’s Health and Mental Health Gillian Merron said she hoped the approach would help prevent reoffending and reduce demand on the NHS.
“By providing offenders with health assessments and the right support, we give them a real chance to rebuild their lives. This means healthier communities and safer streets,” he said.
Experts cautiously welcomed the plan. Mark Day, deputy director of the Prison Reform Foundation, said: “Much aggressive behavior stems from addiction or mental health disorders and so it makes perfect sense to bring together probation health services to help identify and tackle the underlying causes of offending.
“People with neurodivergent conditions are disproportionately over-represented in the justice system and can face particular barriers to accessing appropriate treatment and care. Health is already intimately involved in many criminal justice settings, including youth charging teams and liaison and diversion services based in police stations and courts. We welcome these pilots and hope that equal emphasis will be placed on supporting those released from custody, as well as those on community sentences who are at risk of being sent to prison.”
