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Written question asked by Baroness Masham of Ilton (Crossbench) on Tuesday, 22 May 2018, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 6 June 2018. It was answered by Lord O'Shaughnessy (Conservative) on Tuesday, 5 June 2018 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Hepatitis: Prisoners

Question

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that all new prisoners are offered a test for hepatitis C and have rapid access to care.

Answer

Public Health England, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service and NHS England introduced ‘opt-out’ testing for blood-borne viruses, including hepatitis C, in prisons in the first National Partnership Agreement published in 2013 with phased implementation through a series of pathfinder prisons in three successive phases. Full implementation across the whole adult prison estate in England was concluded in financial year 2017/18, as described in the 2015 Second National Partnership Agreement. A copy of the National Partnership Agreement between: The National Offender Management Service, NHS England and Public Health England for the Co-Commissioning and Delivery of Healthcare Services in Prisons in England 2015-2016 is attached.

All new consenting eligible adult receptions to prisons in England are now offered a hepatitis C test on an opt-out basis within 72 hours of reception in accordance with published national guidance; this usually occurs at second reception health screening. The standard for patients testing positive for hepatitis C is referral to specialists for assessment within a maximum of 18 weeks from referral.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL8139
Session
2017-19
Attachment
National Partnership Agreement 2015-16
Subjects
Health services Hepatitis Prisoners Screening
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk