Improving the health of people in prison is a public health priority, as around 1,000 people per month are released from
correctional facilities and return to living in the general community. The Queensland Prisoner Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2020–2025 is underpinned by the principle of equivalence of care to the community, and recognises the link between reduced access to health care, reduced health literacy and recidivism.
This project identifies that healthcare delivery needs to specifically address barriers to access, while recognising the rights of prisoners to human treatment and health services.
Woodford Correctional Centre (WDFCC) is a high security facility, housing a male population, including a Maximum-Security Unit (MSU). WDFCC is documented to be designed for 988 people, housed in mainstream, safety, protection, MSU and residential areas, but the population varies on a daily basis between 1440 - 1450 people.
There are two medical clinics within WDFCC, providing on-site access to pharmacological, optometry, infectious diseases, diabetes and wound management clinics, social work, sexual health, dental, psychological rehabilitation and medical management services. A significant system is in place providing access to vocational training and participation, and access to sporting opportunities, but the physical robustness of those engaged is not similarly addressed.
Until recently, access to physiotherapy services for the WDFCC population was outsourced to the nearest available secure medical facility, more than100km in distance from WDFCC and in a separate Hospital and Health Service. Transferring prisoners for care posed significant logistical requirements, costs, risks to client and attendants, and inherent security risks.
A three-month cost-neutral pilot project was carried out between December 2020 and March 2021. Service provision inside the internal Maximum-Security- Unit commenced in February 2021. This was a marked improvement from the previous model, whereby 30 clients were treated at the Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) over the entire 2020 calendar year. Client engagement proved to be optimal despite all barriers with attendance of offered appointments being 82% when not impacted by facility lockdown and COVID events.
