Key Highlights
- They were also less likely to receive screening for prostate, breast, lung or cervical cancers. Many offenders do not receive timely care because they are not registered with a GP, meaning often they seek help for any physical or mental health problems only when their symptoms have become acute, turning to A&E. Under a joint pilot between the probation service and the NHS in England, up to 4,000 offenders will receive targeted health support during their probation appointments.
- NHS clinicians and nurses will work directly from probation offices and sit in on appointments between offenders and probation staff. James Timpson, the minister for prisons, probation and reducing reoffending, said the pilot aimed to tackle the “cycle of crime driven by untreated mental health problems or an addiction to drink or drugs”. He said: “A nurse or clinician can now sit in the room during probation appointments, identify the warning signs earlier and refer offenders quickly into treatment or mental health care.
- That’s a gamechanger.
- It will ensure offenders are quickly referred to services that are designed to directly address the issues fuelling their criminality, reduce the number of costly missed appointments and help cut reoffending.”The scheme is being piloted in Cambridge, Middlesbrough, Ilfracombe and Hammersmith.
- Health hubs located in probation offices will help offenders to register with a GP and attend cancer screening appointments, and organise referrals to other health services as required. Dr Dianne Addei, the director of healthcare inequalities improvement at NHS England, said: “We know that people released from prison often have poorer health outcomes, and evidence shows that the faster you intervene the more likely you are to see improvements, so this new scheme is a vital step to boosting people’s health.”Gillian Merron, the women’s health and mental health minister, said she hoped the approach would help prevent reoffending and reduce demand on the NHS.“By providing offenders with a health assessment and the right support, we’re giving them a real shot at rebuilding their lives.
