Safety recommendation
HSSIB recommends that HM Prison and Probation Service updates Prison Service Order 3050, ‘Continuity of healthcare for prisoners’, including guidance on communication of information about prison patients when transferring between prisons, and on the process when prison patients are released from court. This will reduce variation and ensure better continuity of care for patients when being transferred or on their release.
Response:
HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is grateful for this feedback on the Prison Service Order 3050 Continuity of Healthcare for Prisoners.
We are working with health partners, including NHS England (NHSE), The Welsh Government, OHID, Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) and the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) to improve access to health and social care services for people who encounter and move through the criminal justice system. This includes at court, in the community, in custody and returning to the community.
A multi-agency Continuity of Care Steering Group has been considering the changes necessary to PSO3050 and agreement reached to extend the remit of the current policy to include people under probation supervision and pre and post custody transitions. The Steering Group oversaw 10 workshops between October 2023 and April 2024 involving a range of internal and external stakeholders. The policy will include an agreed definition for Continuity of Care for those in touch with HMPPS services, mandatory actions, as well as supporting guidance and a chapter specific to continuity of care for women.
The policy will cover requirements in relation to transition points from court, community, custody and back to the community, including unplanned releases, including via court appearances. It will strengthen existing guidance in relation to information sharing between prison and healthcare services at transition points, including transfer between prisons and on release. Additionally, the policy will reference the partnership working required to support NHS pre and post release services and reinforce the expectation that prison and healthcare staff follow required pre-release processes designed to support Continuity of Care.
The detailed findings in the report will further inform the development of the revised Continuity of Care policy.
Actions planned to deliver safety recommendation:
- Establish a Steering Group to review PSO3050 identifying updated practices and instructions to include those on probation and update to a Policy Framework. By when: completed. Organisational lead: HMPPS Health & Social Care Team. Resources in place: Identified leads in place.
- Draft new policy framework considering Steering Group advice, instruction and direction. By when: April 2025. Organisational lead: HMPPS Health & Social Care Team. Resources in place: Identified leads in place.
- Consult draft with internal and external partners and stakeholders. By when: August 2025. Organisational lead: HMPPS Health & Social Care Team. Resources in place: Identified leads in place.
- Submit policy to HMPPS governance gateway. By when: November 2025. Organisational lead: HMPPS Health & Social Care Team. Resources in place: Identified leads in place.
- Publish and promote policy framework. By when: March 2026. Organisational lead: HMPPS Health & Social Care Team. Resources in place: Identified leads in place.
Response received on 21 February 2025.