§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if prisoners from Doncaster prison are eligible for unaccompanied visits to(a) Doncaster and (b) surrounding towns after good behaviour; and if he will make a statement; [21005]
(2) what provision is available in Doncaster prison for (a) therapeutic and (b) psychological treatment when inmates receive positive results to tests for transmissible diseases; and if he will make a statement; [20991]
(3) what regular medical checks prisoners in Doncaster prison receive; what systematic checks are carried out for transmissible diseases; and if he will make a statement; [20999]
(4) what steps are taken to prevent discrimination against prisoners in Doncaster prison with specific health problems; and if he will make a statement; [20993]
(5) what percentage of the annual budget for Doncaster prison is designated for health care; and if he will make a statement; [21002]
(6) how many (a) nurses and (b) doctors are employed in Doncaster prison; and if he will make a statement; [20992]
(7) what mechanisms exist in Doncaster prison relating to the prevention of (a) transmissible or (b) contagious diseases (i) in general and (ii) in respect of specific outbreaks; and if he will make a statement; [21001]
(8) how many prisoners in Doncaster prison are currently recorded as being terminally ill; if he will list the illnesses diagnosed; and if he will make a statement; [20990]
157W(9) what provisions are made for those prisoners in Doncaster prison known to be terminally ill; and if he will make a statement; [20994]
(10) what steps are taken to ensure the confidentiality checks on prisoners in Doncaster prison, with particular reference to cases involving transmissible diseases; and if he will make a statement; [20978]
(11) how many prisoners have died in Doncaster prison since it opened; and if he will list the figures where the cause of death was (a) self-inflicted, (b)accidental, (c) murder, (d) disease, (e) AIDS, (f)tuberculosis, (g) cancer and (h) vascular and heart disease. [21004]
§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility for these matters has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 19 March 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about unaccompanied visits for prisoners and medical matters at Doncaster prison.
No prisoners from Doncaster are eligible for unaccompanied visits to Doncaster or any other towns in the area.
Four prisoners have died within Doncaster since the prison opened. Two inquests have been held, one of which recorded a verdict of death from natural causes and one a verdict of death by suicide. In addition, two have died in outside hospital, one from natural causes and one suicide. All prisoners are given a physical and mental health check on reception. Prisoners who are identified with pre-existing conditions receive reviews as clinically indicated. All are asked about their experience of transmissible diseases. If clinically indicated, and the prisoner agrees, they undergo the appropriate tests.
Medical confidentiality is of paramount importance at Doncaster and helps reduce the chance of discrimination against any prisoner on the grounds of health. All medical information on prisoners is kept within the Health Care Centre and is provided to nobody except authorized staff. With regard to transmissible diseases, health promotion posters and literature are displayed freely throughout the prison. Doncaster has also had a contagion control policy in preparation for the outbreak of any contagious disease. This policy allows a number of internal and external resources to be deployed in the event of specific outbreaks. The prison has registered mental nurses with counselling skills, as well as qualified counsellors and psychologists to assist prisoners who receive positive results having been tested for a transmissible disease.
There are currently no prisoners in Doncaster who are terminally ill. Should any prisoner be so diagnosed, an application can be made to the Area manager for release on compassionate grounds.
The contract for Doncaster prison specifies the health care requirements that the contractor is required to meet. Distinct services within the total operation are not broken down by price. The way these requirements are met and staffing details are matters for Premier Prison Service.