§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS trusts provide psychiatrists and other staff to prisons. [16629]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 22 November 2001]: Psychiatrists and other mental health staff work in prisons under a range of different organisational arrangements, full details of which are not held centrally.
§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practices provide primary care services to prisons; and if he will make a statement. [16630]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 22 November 2001]: Information on the number of general practices providing primary care in prisons is not held centrally. However, a survey this year of doctors who work in prisons showed that from the 225 who identified themselves as general practitioners, 180 were part time with 120 contracted to work for less than 10 hours a week.
There is no single model governing the recruitment of doctors to prison health care. Historically the system is one of mixed provision in which primary care is provided by doctors directly employed by the Prison Service, general practitioners under contract and locums, or by a combination of these arrangements. This flexibility allows for the most effective use of local labour markets.