Parliamentary Question: Prison Medical Service

16th May 2001

181. Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps he is proposing to take to speed up the scheme which will improve prison medicine; and if he has had discussions with the psychiatrists involved to deal with their objections and reservations. [14134/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin): My Department is represented on the group which was established by my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy O'Donoghue, in November 1999 to review the structure and organisation of prison health care services. A representative of the Royal College of Psychiatrists is also part of this group, whose report and recommendations are nearing completion.
In the course of its review of services, the group received submissions from a range of interested parties. In addition, the group visited all Irish prisons and a number in other jurisdictions to examine the provision of prison medical care and to help reach agreement on what should be best practice in relation to all aspects of health promotion and health care. The group's report is nearing completion.

My Department has also been involved in discussions with the Prison Service and the Midland Health Board in relation to the development of health services in the new midlands prison and it is hoped that the services developed there will serve as a model of good practice for other prisons.