Website of the Department of Health

An insider's guide to the NHS and prison service: unlocking the jargon

Following the Future Organisation of Prison Health Care review in 1999, improving healthcare services in prisons is now one of the top priorities for the Prison Service. Not only does this bring with it a whole new set of challenges, but also a whole new language. Whilst many of the terms may be familiar, the attached is an attempt to demystify healthcare terminology for colleagues in the Prison Service and prison service terminology for colleagues in the Health Service, as well as set out the structures for those working partnership. The early sections of this guide set out how the partnership comes together in chart format. The first chart illustrates how the Prison Health Partnership fits together, from national to local level. The second chart sets out the proposed membership of the Prison Health Steering Group at establishment level. The main body of this guide then introduces the NHS and Prison Service in more detail, setting out both the structures and frequently used terminology. [Book abstract]