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7.1 Similar to other support services, the Unit's health care needs were provided by the main prison. There was a total of 12 hours of Medical Officer (MO) time per week allocated to Peterhead Prison and the Unit. Included within this provision were three consultations, each of two hours duration and held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, with a two hour repeat prescription clinic on a Monday afternoon.
7.2 Unit access to the overall medical provision was on a needs basis rather than specific time allocated to the Unit. A system of screening patients prior to referral to the MO was operated both in the main prison and in the Unit. However, it was the view of the MO that demands from Unit prisoners to have more direct access to the doctor tended to be proportionately greater than that within the main prison, despite most ailments being of a minor nature.
7.3 Unit prisoners were invariably seen in the health centre by the MO, which was regarded as being more conducive to privacy and the personal safety of the health centre staff.
7.4 Access to other health care provision, viz the dentist, chiropodist, optician and physiotherapist, was through the main prison as required. Immunisation against Hepatitis B was available to all prisoners, with 30% of the Unit prisoners having been or in the process of being immunised at the time of our visit. Detoxification programmes were available if considered appropriate to individuals in the Unit, although prisoners were told that substitute prescribing was not available.
7.5 Overall, the medical provision for the Unit was sufficient to meet the needs. There were no complaints from prisoners or staff regarding the provision of the service and there appeared to be an extremely good working relationship between Unit management and the MO.
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