Pursuing excellent health and care for people in contact with the UK criminal justice system
We are thrilled to share the winning poster submissions from the 11th Health and Justice Summit (2024)
Best quality improvement – ADHD Pathway by Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
Best patient safety – Patient safety in prison mental healthcare in England
The latest report published in August 2024 by the Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody (IAPDC) which identifies risk factors associated with premature mortality – and particularly suicide – among patients detained under the Mental Health Act.
This learning lessons bulletin summarises the learning from Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) investigations into the deaths of those who died within 14 days of release from prison.
Prison leavers often have multiple and chronic co-morbidities or risk factors, including substance misuse and mental health issues.
The release of the new National Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance highlights surveillance and health inequalities as important areas for focus. NHSE have looked at data for antibiotic prescribing in the secure estate and compared this to primary care key indicators and between different secure setting types.
The Health Innovation Network Polypharmacy Programme is inviting clinicians to take part in NHS England funded Action Learning Sets to help build GP and prescribing health care professionals’ confidence in, and understanding of, the complex issues surrounding stopping inappropriate medicines safely.
Three cohorts available for booking:
Sessions will run 9:30-12:15 and are held online.
This online interactive course consists of three half-days over one month.
Following a Medicine Supply Notification issued on 3 April 2024 about a national shortage and proposed discontinuation of parenteral (injectable) forms of Pabrinex, DHSC and NHSE have now developed additional clinical guidance for the treatment of alcohol dependence. Clinicians should consider prescribing the equivalent dose of unlicensed injectable thiamine where Pabrinex® is unavailable (which contains 250mg thiamine), where deemed clinically appropriate.
Information resources for measles and MMR in the Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs) for detainees, staff and visitors now published alongside other secure settings.
Inside every prison, young offender institution, immigration removal centre (IRC) and short-term holding facility (STHF), there is an Independent Monitoring Board (IMB), appointed by ministers to monitor and report on the treatment and conditions for those detained.
For the first time, this national annual report brings together IMBs’ key findings and themes across these settings throughout the year.
The Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody’s (IAPDC) Spring newsletter (link) provides an overview of the key activities over the past few months.
Following a Medicine Supply Notification issued by DHSC on 3 April 2024 about a national shortage and proposed discontinuation of parenteral (injectable) forms of Pabrinex, there has been concern among clinicians treating alcohol dependence and withdrawal in secure environments. OHID substance misuse leads have now issued the following information:
“…Clinical guidance for use in alcohol dependence is still being worked up but the consensus advice of leading clinicians is that, as and when you run short of Pabrinex, you simply replace it with an equivalent dose of injectable thiamine, ie 200-300mg thiamine for 1 ampoule/pair Pabrinex (which contains 250mg thiamine). This will mean you sourcing appropriate supplies of thiamine when they are needed.
The Medicines Supply Team in DHSC is working to ensure that thiamine stock is available in this country but, where stock is from imports of formulations not licensed in the UK, (it will need to be individually prescribed because) PGDs cannot be used for unlicensed products.“