Committee publication · Correspondence · 28 January 2026 · HC 702
Correspondence to and from Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, dated 8 December
From: Welsh Affairs Committee
Summary
The Welsh Affairs Committee Chair requests information from Aneurin Bevan University Health Board on prisoner healthcare provision in Wales. The Health Board responds to three inquiries: details of their August 2023 health needs assessment for HMP Usk and HMP Prescoed, benchmarking data against comparator prisons, and cross-border health data-sharing processes. The response confirms no current workforce vacancies and outlines service improvements implemented following the assessment.
Key findings
- ABUHB conducted a Health and Social Care Needs Assessment in August 2023 covering HMP Usk (276 Category C prisoners) and HMP Prescoed (260 Category D prisoners), focusing on an ageing prison population where 45% were over 50 compared to 17% nationally.
- Survey respondents rated ease of access to doctors/nurses at HMP Usk and HMP Prescoed at 94% and 89% respectively, substantially higher than comparator English prisons (17-37% satisfaction). Quality of health services rated at 95% versus below 65% at comparator sites.
- Health Board implemented multiple service improvements including recruitment of immunisation specialist nurse, pharmacy technician, occupational therapist, dementia champions, and collaborative frailty training programmes.
- Healthcare staff vacancies currently stand at zero; staffing levels are regularly reviewed. SystemOne IT system enables cross-border health data sharing with other prisons in England and Wales.
- Assessment found prisoners have healthcare needs equivalent to community cohorts, with higher prevalence of obesity and chronic diseases (asthma, COPD, diabetes, hypertension, mental health conditions) compared to Wales over-18 male population.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Ruth Jones MP, Nicola Prygodzicz, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, HMP Usk, HMP Prescoed
Notable line
“… the overall quality of health services in HMP Usk and HMP Prescoed was rated very highly by respondents to the prison survey.”
Key Quotes
“Given our shared interest in keeping prisoners in Wales healthy, and as the Chief Executive of your Health Board, I would be grateful if you could address the below queries”
“The prevalence of obesity and chronic disease, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary heart disease, Type II diabetes, hypertension, mental health conditions, stroke and transient ischaemic attack (TIA), was higher in HMP Usk compared with the Wales over-18 male reference population.”
“Access to a doctor or nurse at HMP Usk and HMP Prescoed was deemed easy by 94% and 89% of survey respondents respectively. These figures were considerably more favourable than responses from comparator prisons in England …”
“There are currently no vacancies within the healthcare team; however, staffing levels are regularly reviewed to ensure they continue to meet the healthcare needs of prisoners at HMP Usk and HMP Prescoed.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗