HL Deb 14 October 1997 vol 582 cc118-9WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What consideration they are giving to making the National Health Service available to all people held in prison.

Lord Williams of Mostyn

Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons, Sir David Ramsbotham, has set out his views about the organisation of prisoners' health care in the discussion paperPatient or Prisoner. This recommends transferring responsibility for health care to the National Health Service. Officials are currently exploring ways, with the National Health Service, the Department of Health and other interested parties, of improving the quality of health care in prison and how to make its delivery more effective and efficient.