Health Services
Prison Services is funded to provide primary health care to prisoners – a service that is, within reason, equivalent to that provided to the general population.
Primary health care includes provision of “front-line” services available in most communities – primary medical, nursing, mental health addiction services, dental health care, public health and some disability support services.
Every prison has a Health Centre. Provision of care is provided at the Health Centre or within the prison.
To meet its primary health care role, the Public Prison Service employs nursing staff. Medical officers and dentists are contracted to provide medical and dental care.
Provision of secondary and tertiary health care services is the responsibility of the local District Health Board. The prison health service refers prisoners requiring specialist care and treatment to these services under the same eligibility criteria as any other member of the public.
Every prisoner entering prison has their health needs assessed and on-going care and treatment is provided according to that clinical need. This assessment includes whether a prisoner is a risk to themselves and others.
Prisoners have higher health needs than the general population. The Prisoner Health Survey (see link) says most prisoners released from prison have improved health: http://www.moh.govt.nz/
Prisoners with disabilities
Prisoners with disabilities receive a full primary health care service in prison and the same level of support that would be available to them in the wider community via the District Health Board–funded disability and support services.
When a prisoner with a disability is received into prison, a plan around how their disability will be managed is developed. This plan takes into consideration their security classification and how they will interact with other prisoners.
Corrections health staff are required to monitor prisoners with disabilities closely to ensure that, where appropriate, they have access to aids such as wheelchairs. Prisons have cells specifically designed for the needs of prisoners with disabilities.
Prisoners with mental health needs
Research conducted on the health of prisoners demonstrates a consistent picture of alcohol and drug abuse, mental illness such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, and problem gambling.
These conditions occur at levels likely to be in excess of those seen in the general population. In many cases, prisoners have more than one of these problems.
High numbers of prisoners report a history of prior head injury, and prisoners have a higher risk of suicide. However, only a limited amount of this health status information is available for Māori.
Prisoners with complex mental health needs are managed in partnership with the local Forensic Psychiatric Service.
Prisoners with complex mental health needs unable to be cared for within the general prison population may be placed in “at risk” units within the prison on a short-term basis. Prisoners with complex mental health needs requiring hospital treatment are transferred to the local Forensic Psychiatric Service secure unit.
Prisoners with complex mental health needs also exist elsewhere and other regional forensic services provide similar levels of support.