§ 10. Mr. David Tredinnick (Bosworth)What discussions he has had with the Home Secretary concerning the range of complementary and alternative medical treatments available in Her Majesty's prisons and Her Majesty's young offenders institutions; what was decided; and if he will make a statement. [92593]
§ The Minister of State, Department of Health (Mr. John Hutton)The priority to be accorded to such 248 treatments and the suitability of particular complementary and alternative treatments in prisons and other custodial institutions were considered by officials from the Prison Service and the Department of Health earlier this year. It was decided that a limited number of complementary therapies of potential benefit to prisoners and regimes should be provided, subject to the prison doctor's assessment of individual health needs and resource availability.
§ Mr. TredinnickDoes the Minister not think that it is nonsense that the number of treatments available in the Prison Service has been reduced from 24 to six, when more and more treatments are being made available in the national health service? Does not he recognise that many complementary and alternative practitioners use more than one treatment? Does not he think that it is fundamentally crazy that homeopathy has been dropped from the list of treatments available in prisons, despite the fact that it has been used in the health service since that service's inception and that a new homeopathic hospital is coming on-stream in Glasgow?
§ Mr. HuttonI am not sure that I want to echo the adjectives used by the hon. Gentleman. The decisions that have been taken are not crazy. They are sensible and well balanced, and take into account the obvious question of resources. We are trying to improve, across the range, the health care services available to prisoners. We are doing that, but we must take into account the priorities facing the prison population. We must also take into account the special mental health problems that arise in prisons, and improve mental health services to prisoners. We are continuing to make complementary treatments and therapies available to prisoners in the prison estate.