Written question asked by Julie Morgan (Labour) on Wednesday, 10 December 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 December 2003. It was answered by Stephen Ladyman (Labour) on Thursday, 18 December 2003 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure a consistent structure of oversight for prisoners' healthcare during the transfer of responsibility from HM Prison Service to the NHS.

Answer: Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure a consistent structure of oversight for prisoners' healthcare during the transfer of responsibility from HM Prison Service to the NHS. [144071] Dr. Ladyman: In addition to routine performance monitoring by the Prison Service, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons and the independent monitoring boards at individual establishments oversee prisoners' healthcare. The Commission for Health Improvement's (CHI) responsibility for conducting reviews and investigations of healthcare extends to health services for prisoners commissioned or provided by National Health Service bodies. The Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection (CHAD will succeed CHI from April 2004. Transfer of responsibility for commissioning health services for prisoners to NHS primary care trusts (PCTs) is due to begin in selected locations from April 2004, leading to full devolution of prison health resources to PCTs by the end of March 2006. As this process develops, prisoners' healthcare will come within the ambit of the normal NHS monitoring systems. We are considering with HM Inspectorate of Prisons and CHAI how the external inspection arrangements for prison health services should develop in the light of these changes.

Secondary information