§ Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors work in prisons in England and Wales; and how many of these are qualified to general practitioner level. [99534]
§ Jacqui SmithThere are 543 doctors working in prisons in England and Wales as at January 2003, providing primary care and specialist services.
Of the 109 directly employed by the Prison Service to provide primary care services, 26 are not qualified to general practitioner level. They are either engaging in training towards GP or psychiatric qualification, or arrangements are being made for them to work under appropriate supervision.