HC Deb 22 June 1992 vol 210 cc6-7W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prisons in England and Wales that are able to perform major medical operations on inmates.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

There are modern fully equipped surgical units situated at Parkhurst and Liverpool prisons: the latter is closed temporarily to facilitate the installation of integral sanitation. Operations are performed by surgeons from the NHS, but where major surgery or highly specialist equipment is required, the patient is transferred to an outside hospital.

Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the procedures that are followed by his Department when payment has to be paid to a hospital for giving medical treatment to prison inmates and who is responsible for such payment.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

No costs to the prison service arise for treatment or other care which is provided to prisoners in national health service facilities. The costs involved are ordinarily a matter for the prisoner's district health authority of origin.