Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Nov 1999

Vol. 510 No. 3

Written Answers. - Prison Medical Service.

Liz McManus

Question:

383 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the role his Department plays in the provision or supervision of medical services provided to prisoners; the steps, if any, he will take to ensure the provision of a satisfactory level of medical care in view of a recent study by the centre for health promotion at the NUI, Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22734/99]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

As Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I am responsible for the provision of primary medical services to prisoners. It is policy that prisoners be provided with an equivalent standard of health care as citizens in the general community who are entitled to services under the Health Acts. I am advised in relation to the structure and organisation of a broad range of prison-related health services by the director of prison medical service who co-ordinates the provision of such services.

Each prison has one or more part-time doctors who are responsible for the health care of prisoners within that institution. Where a prisoner requires specialist hospital care, either as an out-patient or in-patient, arrangements are made for this to be provided in an appropriate hospital.

The core recommendation of the 1998 annual report of the director of the prison medical service is for an independent review of the structure and organisation of prison health care services. This recommendation was echoed in the recently published report on the prevalence and risk of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV in Irish prisoners. I have accepted this recommendation and have asked the director general of the prison service to bring forward proposals for a multi disciplinary review group as a matter of urgency. His report on the matter is now with me and I expect to be making an announcement shortly. I can assure the Deputy that every effort will be made to ensure that all prisoners can continue to avail of the required level of health service while in custody.

The study by the centre for health promotion at UCG, referred to by the Deputy, is a research project that I commissioned to examine the overall health status of the Irish prison population. This study has not yet been completed and any comment on possible findings or recommendations would be premature pending its completion. It is envisaged that the study will be completed during the first half of 2000. It is my intention to publish the findings of this research as soon as possible.