§ Baroness Haymanasked Her Majesty's Government:
What proposals for changes in the organisation of health services in prison are currently under consideration and whether they plan to issue a discussion document.
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Blatch)The most recent proposals formally considered by Her Majesty's Government for changes in the organisation of health services in prisons were provided by the 1990 efficiency scrutiny of the Prison Medical Service. A copy of the scrutiny report was placed in the Library.
The Prison Service accepted in principle the scrutiny's recommendation that it should move from being the provider of healthcare services towards becoming a purchaser. As a result a number of prisons have contracted-in certain health care services and further contracts are currently under consideration.