Audit into blood-borne virus services in Her Majesty's Prison Service

The main objective of this study is to assess current hepatitis C services for female prisoners. The study design includes a retrospective audit of inmates' contact with blood-borne virus (BBV) services and outcomes of service use. The study was carried out at a prison for women in the north of England with 179 prisoners and 69 service users. The outcome measures were proportions in contact with services and outcomes of service use (time to testing/treatment; proportion positive for hepatitis C; HIV status). Almost a quarter of those arriving at the prison have contact with BBV services; most of them report a history of intravenous drug use (75.4%), although one-fifth of such individuals decline testing. The average number of days from imprisonment to testing was 86-half this time if arriving since October 2006. Fifty percent were positive for the hepatitis C antibody, the majority of whom (83.3%) had an active virus and were suitable for treatment. The average number of days from testing to referral was 38. All tested for HIV were negative. Therefore, efficiency is necessary if prisoners are to access BBV services while incarcerated. This is being achieved, although some delays still occur.