Concerns raised on gaps in healthcare for released prisoners
People leaving prison in England can experience avoidable gaps in their medication because of fragmented healthcare systems, poor information sharing, and discharge processes which are sometimes rushed due to release procedures, a new study has revealed.
According to The University of Manchester researchers, medication can be disrupted at the point of release, especially when people are discharged at short notice or outside normal working hours, when services are least able to coordinate care.
The study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Greater 91直播 Patient Safety Research Collaboration (GM PSRC), is published in the journal Health Expectations today(insert date).
It paints a picture of a system which needs to better coordinate to keep people safe during one of the most vulnerable moments in their lives.
Healthcare staff interviewed by the researchers described delays in transferring medical records between prison and community GPs, confusion over who is responsible for discharge planning, and staffing pressures that can leave little time to prepare people for release.
They also highlighted the lack of integrated IT systems, meaning important information can fail to follow people out of the prison gates, which can lead to missed doses, interrupted treatment, and increased risk of harm.
Lead author Research Associate at The University of Manchester said: 鈥淭here are clear opportunities to reduce medication-related risks at the point of discharge. Discharge planning interventions developed collaboratively with prisoners and relevant services and which prioritise coordination and informational continuity are needed.鈥�
Co-author , Professor of Health Services and Mental Health at The University of Manchester added: 鈥淢edication safety breaks down at one of the most vulnerable points in care鈥攚hen people leave prison. Our findings show that with better coordination, earlier planning, and improved information sharing, many of these risks are preventable.鈥�
There are clear opportunities to reduce medication-related risks at the point of discharge. Discharge planning interventions developed collaboratively with prisoners and relevant services and which prioritise coordination and informational continuity are needed
The research team interviewed 12 professionals including GPs, pharmacists, and prison officers, analysing their insights using the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety framework (SEIPS) .
SEIPS is a model used in healthcare to understand how different parts of a work system affect patient safety and care outcomes.
They identified five major factors driving unsafe medication transitions: unpredictable release practices, poor communication between services, staffing shortages, outdated or incompatible IT systems, and patient-level challenges such as low health literacy, substance use, and unstable housing.
The study warns the pressures are intensified by the high turnover in prisons, with nearly half of all sentenced admissions in 2023 lasting under 12 months, and by the complex health needs of people in custody, who experience far higher rates of mental illness, chronic conditions, and substance dependence than the general population.
The researchers call for earlier discharge planning beginning at prison entry, electronic prescribing to ensure timely access to medication, better continuity of medical records, dedicated transitional discharge teams, and multi鈥慸isciplinary meetings to coordinate complex cases.
Dr Planner added: 鈥淭hese findings show that safer medication management is achievable but will require coordinated action across prison and community healthcare systems.
鈥淚mproving communication, clarifying responsibilities, and strengthening processes could significantly reduce avoidable harm for thousands of people leaving prison each year.鈥�
- The paper Exploring medication safety in transitions from prison to community: a qualitative study is available . DOI