It has been over a year since the publication of a key report, “National baseline review of healthcare provision within police custody centres in Scotland”, by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS).
The review identified a great variation in access to healthcare between different custody locations and made a powerful case for improvements in the quality of healthcare provision. With great relevance to our work at SONAR, the review emphasised the importance of collection and sharing of data:
“There was a recognition that improvement is needed in how services capture and report on healthcare data and key performance indicators in the context of police custody. There was consensus across all NHS Scotland boards that the current electronic system for recording healthcare data (Adastra) is not fit for purpose and does not support the comparison of clinical data nor enable national reporting.”
It concluded by calling for a new electronic system to replace the current infrastructure:
“It is clear therefore, that Health boards require a suitable electronic system that supports them to appropriately record and monitor clinical data to ensure patient needs are met and enables the comparison and sharing of clinical data.”
One year later and these concerns remain current. In fact earlier this month, the report “Nothing to see here”, published by the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research, presented very similar evidence. The study found that between 2015 and 2023, 26 people died in custody in Scotland with a further 198 deaths following police contact . Across all custodial settings, a repeated cause of death and harm were basic errors of information such as lost hospital letters, missed appointments or recommended tests:
“In previous reports we have noted a tendency in prison of homogenising the prison population as ‘unhealthy’, side lining scrutiny of healthcare quality and access within custody. Several cases raised questions about the possible impacts that incarceration can have on health outcomes, including poor communication between prisons and hospitals, missed health appointments and scans.”
It goes without saying that we at SONAR are still here and even more ready to help. Evidence from England also shows the importance of accurate collection and sharing of key data. We remain keen to work with all relevant authorities to progress the recommendations of the HIS / HMICS report, in particular recommendation #5:
“NHS National Services Scotland, NHS boards and HSCPs should work together to ensure clinical data is appropriately recorded and monitored to ensure patient needs are met and to support the comparison of clinical data and national reporting of outcomes.”
John White
Founder & CEO
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