Prison health. A different place for GPs

Imprisonment rates in Australia have been steadily increasing over the past decade. Prisoners have high rates of substance use and dependence, mental illness, self harming behaviours and infectious disease.

This article discusses health issues of prisoners and the role of general practitioners in prison health.

The standard of health care provided for prisoners should be equivalent to that available in the general community. Medical officers working within prisons need to be competent GPs with particular skills in managing the unique patterns of morbidity encountered. In addition, public health advocacy, an ability to examine the frequent ethical issues at stake, and close links with colleagues both within prisons and in the community are needed.