Improving healthcare at Chelmsford prison

Prisoners at Chelmsford prison are benefitting from better integration of healthcare and community services provided by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT).

The Trust which is responsible for providing community, mental health and substance misuse services in Essex is in the process of recruiting to increase the number of healthcare staff at the prison and develop new care pathways that are specific to the needs of prisoners.

The Trust is working with HMP Chelmsford to improve the health and wellbeing of prisoners.

Bringing prison healthcare together with our other services mean that referrals and treatment are quicker - this reduces the risk of multiple and unnecessary referrals and delays to treatment.

The Trust now also provides the GP services within the prison, with the addition of a full time and a part time Forensic Psychiatrist, a team of mental health nurses and physical health nurses. The Trust is still looking to recruit more nurses.

The Forensic Psychiatrist provides expertise in mental health and the law and is able to assess and treat mentally disordered prisoners, either in prison, hospital or the community.

EPUT also delivers Integrated Drug Treatment Service (IDTS) within the prison, supporting prisoners with addictions. The Trust also provides a Liaison and Diversion Service within Police custody areas and courts across Essex where offenders are directed to appropriate services to suit their needs.

Ian Carr, Interim Associate Director said: “We have made significant progress within Chelmsford prison by providing a more integrated service which allows easier communication, decision making and support for men who find themselves within the criminal justice system. Also by having the Trust’s consultant psychiatrists attending the prison we are able to identify those in need of hospital admissions and to divert them to our services in a much more timely way and without the need for additional referrals to take place which is usually the case where multiple providers are involved. This provides a more responsive and sensitive process and which we hope will lead to better experiences for patients and for our Prison Service colleagues.”