New information system set to improve continuity of care to population with complex health and social care needs.

Patients in the Health and Justice Sector are set to benefit from improved continuous healthcare with a new contract being conditionally awarded to The Phoenix Partnership (TPP), to supply the Health and Justice Information system in places of detention.

The new system will be launched from July 2016 and will mean patients in Prisons, Immigration Removal Centres, Youth institutes and Secure Children’s homes will no longer have to wait for their medical records to be faxed over by their GP.

They will now, for the first time, be able to register for General Medical Services with healthcare providers in their secure facility.

Health Care Providers will then have access to the patient’s community records and those with complex health and social needs will benefit from continuous care that is managed faster and more appropriately. These records can then be securely transferred back to a GP when the patient returns to the community, which will allow patients to benefit from uninterrupted care for long term conditions.

Dr Jake Hard, Clinical Lead for the project, Prison GP and chair of the Royal College of GPs Secure Environments Group, said – “This represents a significant step forward in supporting and promoting the continuity of care for those people who come into contact with the criminal justice system.  The new developments will for the first time contribute to a more inclusive approach to providing health care in these settings and further support the clinicians providing care to their patients.”

The Health and Justice Information Services Programme has been in development for over three years and has been delivered by NHS England and The Health and Social Care Information Centre in partnership with Public Health England, The Youth Justice Board, The Ministry of Justice and The Home Office along with independent charitable partnerships. The programme aims to support the National Offender Management Service in improving outcomes for detainees, their integration back into society and reduce re-offending.

Kate Davies, NHS England’s National Director for Health and Justice, said: “This is an important milestone in supporting the continuation of care and support to all adults, children and young people in the criminal justice system.  It will allow clinical information and records to transfer between the community GP and the secure environments enabling and supporting quality healthcare for all.”