Clare Humphreys1, Cathie Railton2, Éamonn O'Moore3, Martin Lombard4, Autilia Newton2. 1. West Yorkshire Health Protection Team, Public Health England, Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds LS2 7UE, UK. 2. Health and Justice Team, Public Health England, Block 2, FERA, Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ, UK. 3. Health and Justice Team, Public Health England, Wellington House, Waterloo Road, London SE1 8UG, UK. 4. Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Prescot Street, Liverpool L7 8XP, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Prisons are an important setting to address prevention, testing and treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and other blood-borne viruses. This audit examined current practice against national standards in a representative sample of prisons in England. METHODS: The audit tool was developed based on best practice guidelines and piloted in one prison. In December 2012, the audit was conducted in a further 20 prisons, which were chosen to represent different types, sizes and geographical spread across England. RESULTS: Testing for HCV was offered in the majority of prisons audited (20 of 21), but only two-thirds had a written policy on testing and treatment; less than a third had a steering group to oversee the process. The nature of services varied greatly. There were inconsistencies across data sources on testing. CONCLUSIONS: This audit found that while there were many areas of good practice, the quality and content of hepatitis C service provision varied. It highlighted the need to provide appropriate guidance for prisons in delivering a high-quality service, ensuring that relevant training is available for different staff and that adequate psychosocial support is provided to patients.
BACKGROUND: Prisons are an important setting to address prevention, testing and treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and other blood-borne viruses. This audit examined current practice against national standards in a representative sample of prisons in England. METHODS: The audit tool was developed based on best practice guidelines and piloted in one prison. In December 2012, the audit was conducted in a further 20 prisons, which were chosen to represent different types, sizes and geographical spread across England. RESULTS: Testing for HCV was offered in the majority of prisons audited (20 of 21), but only two-thirds had a written policy on testing and treatment; less than a third had a steering group to oversee the process. The nature of services varied greatly. There were inconsistencies across data sources on testing. CONCLUSIONS: This audit found that while there were many areas of good practice, the quality and content of hepatitis C service provision varied. It highlighted the need to provide appropriate guidance for prisons in delivering a high-quality service, ensuring that relevant training is available for different staff and that adequate psychosocial support is provided to patients.
Authors: Natasha K Martin; Peter Vickerman; Iain F Brew; Joan Williamson; Alec Miners; William L Irving; Sushma Saksena; Sharon J Hutchinson; Sema Mandal; Eamonn O'Moore; Matthew Hickman Journal: Hepatology Date: 2016-03-22 Impact factor: 17.425
Authors: Timothy Papaluca; Anne Craigie; Lucy McDonald; Amy Edwards; Michael MacIsaac; Jacinta A Holmes; Matthew Jarman; Tanya Lee; Hannah Huang; Andrew Chan; Mark Lai; Vijaya Sundararajan; Joseph S Doyle; Margaret Hellard; Mark Stoove; Jessica Howell; Paul Desmond; David Iser; Alexander J Thompson Journal: PLoS One Date: 2020-11-18 Impact factor: 3.240