Transfer of offender health services at HMP Isle of Wight completes

Company news

Jun 04, 2013

Independent healthcare provider Care UK is now running offender health services at HMP Isle of Wight. The organisation has been chosen by NHS commissioners to develop the services offered to prisoners and will be working to improve outcomes and reduce waiting times. Care UK has previously achieved this in over 20 other offender health services across England.

The contract sees Care UK take responsibility for the delivery of GP-services and primary care, mental health, pharmacy, physiotherapy, optometry and podiatry services at both the Albany and Parkhurst facilities. The Albany In-Patient Healthcare Unit will also offer prisoners physical injury and substance misuse treatments.

Clinical teams at both sites transferred in accordance with TUPE and retain their previous terms and conditions of employment. The contract Care UK has with commissioners is for an initial three year period, with the option for it to be extended. The service was previously provided by Isle of Wight NHS Trust.

Ross Dowsett, a regional director at Care UK and part of the team leading healthcare services at HMP Isle of Wight, said: “Care UK has an excellent track record in improving the long-term health of offenders. Our experience in delivering quality healthcare in challenging environments such as prisons is second-to-none and we’re looking forward to working closely with the team at HMP Isle of Wight. The clinical team and I are keen to build on the well-run service already in place by quickly moving forwards with our plans to improve the healthcare services offered to prisoners.”