An audit of hepatitis C service provision in a representative sample of prisons in England

Prisons are an important setting to address prevention, testing and treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and other blood-borne viruses. This audit examined current practice against national standards in a representative sample of prisons in England.

The audit tool was developed based on best practice guidelines and piloted in one prison. In December 2012, the audit was conducted in a further 20 prisons, which were chosen to represent different types, sizes and geographical spread across England.

Testing for HCV was offered in the majority of prisons audited (20 of 21), but only two-thirds had a written policy on testing and treatment; less than a third had a steering group to oversee the process. The nature of services varied greatly. There were inconsistencies across data sources on testing.

This audit found that while there were many areas of good practice, the quality and content of hepatitis C service provision varied. It highlighted the need to provide appropriate guidance for prisons in delivering a high-quality service, ensuring that relevant training is available for different staff and that adequate psychosocial support is provided to patients.