Thousands of offenders in England to get health support at probation meetings | Prisons and probation
Around 4,000 offenders in England will benefit from targeted healthcare sessions during their probation appointments as part of a new pilot project.
Offenders are much more likely to have physical or mental health or addiction problems, which increases the likelihood of recidivism.
A recent report by England’s chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, found that half of offenders on probation smoked, many had drug or alcohol problems and a majority had poor mental health. They were also less likely to receive screening for prostate, breast, lung or cervical cancer.
Many offenders do not receive timely care because they are not registered with a GP, meaning they often seek help for physical or mental health problems only when their symptoms have become acute, turning to emergency rooms.
As part of a joint pilot between the Probation Service and the NHS in England, up to 4,000 offenders will receive targeted medical support during their 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 alcohol or drugs”.
He said: “A nurse or clinician can now sit in the room during probation appointments, identify warning signs earlier and quickly refer offenders to treatment or mental health care. This is a game-changer. It will ensure offenders are quickly referred to services designed to directly address the issues fueling their crime, reduce the number of costly missed appointments and help reduce reoffending.”
The project is being trialled in Cambridge, Middlesbrough, Ilfracombe and Hammersmith. Health centers located in probation offices will help offenders register with a GP and attend their cancer screening appointments, and arrange referrals to other health services if necessary.
Dr Dianne Addei, director of improving healthcare inequalities at NHS England, said: “We know that people released from prison often have poorer health outcomes, and the evidence shows that the sooner you intervene, the more likely you are to see improvements. This new program is therefore an essential step in improving people’s health. »
Gillian Merron, Minister for Women’s and Mental Health, said she hoped the approach would help prevent reoffending and reduce demand on the NHS.
“By providing offenders with a health assessment and the appropriate support, we give them a real chance to rebuild their lives. This means healthier communities and safer streets,” she said.
Experts welcomed this project with caution. Mark Day, deputy director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: “A lot of offending behavior is driven by substance abuse or mental health problems. It therefore makes perfect sense to bring together probation health services to help identify and tackle the underlying causes of crime.
“People with neurodivergent conditions are disproportionately over-represented in the justice system and may face particular barriers to accessing appropriate treatment and care. Health is already closely involved in many criminal justice settings, including youth offending teams and liaison and diversion services located in police stations and courts. We welcome these pilots and hope that equal attention will be given to supporting people serving community sentences at risk of being sent to prison, as well as those on release.”
