Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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179. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if standard audit tools to measure health care equivalence in the prison system have been developed; if these tools have been implemented and audits carried out; the results of these audits; if changes have been made to health care in line with audit recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34008/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service Three Year Strategic Plan 2012 - 2015, under Strategic Action 3: gives a commitment to provide equivalence of care to all prisoners in custody and to develop audit tools to measure such equivalence. The Irish Prison Service developed a set of Healthcare Standards which were published in June 2004, setting out the standards expected under each of the seven main areas of care. These standards were externally audited by KPMG in 2008. At that time compliance with standards varied significantly across prisons (38% - 61%). Issues relating to awareness of the standards, healthcare facilities, utilisation of healthcare staff, absence of a local healthcare management grade, availability of drug treatment, record keeping and absence of administrative support were highlighted.

Since this audit there has been a significant improvement in many areas of care. An awareness campaign regarding the content of healthcare standards has been undertaken. All healthcare care staff receive training on the standards at induction. Each closed prison now has a local healthcare nursing management structure in place, which has improved the management of healthcare staff and the coordination of healthcare inputs. Healthcare facilities in Arbour Hill, Cork, Limerick, Castlerea, Midlands, Mountjoy , Portlaoise and Wheatfield have been significantly upgraded. Loughan House healthcare facilities are currently under construction. Healthcare records are now fully computerised and one single healthcare record is maintained for each prisoner, with all healthcare professionals contributing to the single patient record.

The Irish Prison Service is in the process of carrying out a pilot audit with a view to informing a review of the current standards, to meet the changing healthcare needs of prisoners. The Irish Prison Service has commenced discussions with the Irish College of General Practitioners to seek to identify and implement primary care standards for prison medical services and to devise a suitable audit methodology. A collaborative approach between the Irish College of General Practitioners and the Irish Prison Service will ensure that a robust tool is developed which can be consistently applied. Conclusions arising from such audits can be implemented to ensure that the standard of care delivered to prisoners is equivalent to that which is available in the community. It is intended that a phased audit of prison healthcare will commence in the autumn.