§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to monitor the levels of hepatitis B and C within prisons in England and Wales. [34873]
§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Robert Key, dated 8 July 1996:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the steps being taken to monitor the levels of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C within prisons in England and Wales.The Prison Service has a central system for monitoring hepatitis in inmates based on annual returns from establishments. The information recorded includes the following which relate to the number of new cases of hepatitis identified during each year.
- Acute Hepatitis A
- Acute Hepatitis B
- Chronic Hepatitis B
- Acute Hepatitis C
- Other Hepatitis
The latest results of this monitoring were published in the annual report of the Director of Health Care (1994–95).34WFrom April 1996 a new monthly system of health care monitoring was introduced. This includes similar questions to the above relating to hepatitis. The new system and distinguishes between new cases identified during the month and actual numbers with hepatitis on a given day. This enables more accurate information on prevalence to be produced.
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance is issued for the treatment of prisoners with hepatitis B and C. [34875]
§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Robert Key, dated 8 July 1996:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the guidance which is issued for the treatment of prisoners with hepatitis B and C.No specific advice is issued to prison doctors on the treatment of hepatitis B but this is managed by the managing medical officer within his/her clinical judgement taking note of specialist advice. The treatment of acute cases of hepatitis C (HCV) is managed along similar lines.Advice on the treatment of HCV including the necessity to seek consultant advice, provide pre-test counselling and the need for consent to testing has recently been issued, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. This advice was developed in conjunction with the Department of Health and the Public Health Laboratory Service.