13 July 2017

For immediate publication

CNWL's health services within HMP Coldingley praised

An inspection of health services provided at Coldingley Prison by CNWL has praised the levels of care provided.

The unannounced inspection - carried out jointly in February between the Care Quality Commission and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons found that "health care provision was good" and that "care for vulnerable men was generally good".

CNWL provides both mental health and primary care services within the prison, though only started providing primary healthcare services, which includes dental, opticians, podiatry and physio services, in April this year following a contract win.

Primary health care services were provided by the previous incumbent at the time of the inspection.

It also works in partnership with the charity RAPt with those prisoners on substitute prescribing pathways.

While acknowledging that some elements of the assessment, care in custody and teamwork (ACCT) case management processes for prisoners at risk of suicide or self-harm needed attention, the report,which is available on the HMIP website, said of health care overall: "Health care governance arrangements were effective and prisoners had good access to an appropriate range of clinics.

"We observed skilled practitioners interacting positively with prisoners, delivering clinically effective care. Most prisoners said they were satisfied with the care they received. Pharmacy and medicine management services were good. Dentistry was good and there was an appropriate range of treatments, but waiting times were excessive.

"Mental health services were delivering timely and clinically appropriate interventions that had a strong emphasis on psychological support. Social care arrangements were still developing, but they responded to prisoners' needs."

The inspectors were complimentary of mental health services and said: "Members of the mental health team liaised and interacted well with prison staff and other health providers, including GPs. Five prisoner champions had been identified to support the prison's mental health promotion initiatives. We observed a number of therapeutic interactions that demonstrated prisoners were involved in framing their own care."

It also praised good practice within the pharmacy department when it referred to a successful analgesics review clinic that worked well with patients to reduce the inappropriate prescribing of analgesic medicines.

The report also found Coldingley to be a prison that offered prisoners hope and the reality of progression, "which is a significant achievement that we do not underestimate".

For more details:

Contact Senior Communications Officer Jeremy Dunning on 0203 214 5756 or email jeremy.dunning@nhs.net

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Stephenson House, 75 Hampstead Road, London NW1 2PL
Tel: 020 3214 5756 e-mail:communications.cnwl@nhs.net