The COVID-19 pandemic and older adults in prison: a brief report from a nominal group

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns were raised regarding the vulnerability of prisoners to infection from the virus, leading to numerous changes to prison regimes and healthcare delivery. A nominal group was conducted exploring the experiences and views of prison staff involved in supporting older adult prisoners in England and Wales during times of COVID-19, including considering improvements in prison healthcare that can be applied beyond the pandemic. The group included seven participants with relevant knowledge and experience, comprising two consultants in public health, four heads of prison healthcare, and a prison governor. Three key themes emerged from the analysis of the group discussions: 1) Impact and uses of technology; 2) Changes to prison regimes; and 3) The importance of purposeful activities. Further research is needed to understand the impact and effectiveness of digital technologies in prisons during the pandemic, specifically telemedicine, including understanding which circumstances and patient groups these provide most benefit in. Furthermore, prisons should ensure that the health and social care needs of older adults are considered when designing prison regimes and offering educational and recreational activities.