RCGP-2014-poster-abstracts

P035
Re-­‐prescribing regular medications to prisoners entering custody in a UK prison
Daniel Kristiansen; Aran Gillespie
University of Manchester
Background: UK Prisons provide primary healthcare services to prisoners. Government policy dictates this should be
of an equivalent standard to community care. Prisoners frequently complain about delay in represcribing of their
regular medications initiated in the community.
Aims: For a sample of prisoners reporting a sertraline prescription upon entering custody: (1) investigate the extent
of delay of represcribing (2) identify the factors leading to this delay, (3) make recommendations to address it.
Content: We will detail the background, methodology and recommendations of the project. The main finding was an
average represcribing delay of 8.3 days amongst prisoners for whom a regular prescription was eventually verified.
Weaknesses in the system leave opportunities for greater delays. Factors implicated in the delay included: variability
in prescriber’s confidence to represcribe without objective evidence of prescription; the time taken to receive
evidence of prescription from community prescribers.
Relevance/impact: (1)Recommendations to prison and community care providers on how to reduce the
represcribing delay. (2) Increase community GP’s awareness of continuity of care for their patients who may
be/become prisoners.
Discussion: Prisoners may not receive equal access to medications on transfer from primary care in the community
to prison. To reduce delay and improve access, prescribers at entrance to custody mayneed to trust prisoners self
reporting of medicines more frequently. This may be achievable for those medicines less likely to be reported
fraudulently. As we have demonstrated, antidepressants may be one group of such medicines and further study is
called upon to identify others.
P036
A Review of the Hepatitis C Service at HMP Leeds and Wealstun 2008-­‐14
Iain Brew; Joan Williamson
Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust
Introduction: Hepatitis C is a significant problem, especially among injecting drug users. Untreated, it leads to
cirrhosis in most after years of asymptomatic infection. It is estimated by Public Health England that 175,000 people
in England are suffering from chronic hepatitis C and up to 10% of this population may be in prison.
The supportive, stable environment prison offers makes it an ideal opportunity to treat patients who find it difficult
to access treatment. Since 2008, HMP Leeds and Wealstun have been treating patients in-­‐house with the support of
the Hepatology Department at St James Hospital in Leeds.
Service milestones: In January 2012, the Community MDT started, formalising the service in HMP Leeds and the
Community Drug Treatment Service. The MDT has proved extremely effective, allowing continuity of care between
prison and the community and between Primary and Secondary Care providers.
Results: Seven of 132 patients were lost to follow up, meaning results are available for 94.7% of patients. Three
patients (2.3%) were deceased: No deaths were directly caused by treatment.
Overall, 72 (60%) patients achieved sustained viral response ( SVR). Of the available results, 64.9% achieved SVR.
P038
A review of hearing standards required to join the armed forces, fire and police service
Gareth Jones; Shailesh Agrawal; R Murphy; Michael Sadik
Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust
Objectives: The authors aimed to collate the hearing requirements to join the British Army, Royal Navy, RAF, Fire
and Police services to equip general practioners with the necessary knowledge to advise potential recruits.
Content: The poster will demonstrate the standards required for each profession clearly in tables.
Relevance: Medical entry standards to join the military have existed since the Boer War (1899-­‐1902) with the police
and fire service introducing standards later. One of the few standards still objectively measured is hearing. ENT
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