Prisoners would get better healthcare if health services were delivered by an external health agency rather than the Department of Corrections, a report by the Office of the Ombudsmen says.
The report by Chief Ombudsman Beverley Wakem and Ombudsman David McGee also says taxpayers would see better value if healthcare came from an agency.
While the investigation found that prisoners have reasonable access to health services – as is required by law – the report found prison healthcare was reactive rather than proactive, lacked direction and had poor communication lines.
The report also raised concerns that increasing prisoner numbers, combined with difficulties in recruiting and retaining nurses, meant the current model “may not, in the long term, be financially and organisationally sustainable”.
Ms Wakem says there is a need for “a greater emphasis on health needs, rather than custodial and management issues determining the quality of healthcare a prisoner receives”.
The Department’s health budget is not ring-fenced, meaning if the Department is forced to reduce spending this could impact on the availability of health services.
Health services have previously been forced to cancel nurse training on the methadone policy due to a lack of funds.
The report says any failure to adequately treat prisoners will place extra demand on District Health Boards when the prisoners are released back into the community.
Ms Wakem also recommended an external audit of prison healthcare be undertaken on an ongoing basis.
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