Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 November 2021
154. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice the programme the Government is developing to have a structure in place for dealing with hepatitis C and infectious diseases amongst the prison population and within the clinic setting in the prison; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57874/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, all prisoners committed to prison are subject to a medical assessment by the Prison Healthcare Team. Healthcare staff are guided by the infectious disease policy with support from prison and national committees to implement a range of infection control measures for TB, HIV, Hepatitis B and other infections.
Hepatitis screening is offered to all new prisoners as part of this assessment which includes Hepatitis C. Prisoners can also avail of Hepatitis screening through their local Prison Healthcare Team at any stage of their time in custody.
If at any time a prisoner displays any signs and symptoms of hepatitis or any other infectious disease they are reviewed by a member of the Prison Healthcare Team and managed in accordance with infectious disease policy and public health advice.
I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service is currently in consultation with the HSE to develop a comprehensive Hepatitis C screening programme that builds on the existing screening and treatment service in the Dublin and Midlands Prisons. Where necessary, this programme will facilitate access to assessment and treatment for Hepatitis C by a specialist clinical team.
The ongoing Covid-19 situation has delayed the planned introduction of a pilot programme and also delayed the subsequent roll out the Hepatitis C “seek and treat” programme across the entire prison estate. However, it is expected that a pilot programme will be introduced in the first quarter of 2022 and extended to the remaining prisons during 2022.
