Equivalence of care
A prison health‑care service should be able to provide medical treatment
and nursing care, as well as appropriate diets, physiotherapy, rehabilitation
or any other necessary special care, in conditions comparable to those pro‑
vided to patients in the community. Provision in terms of medical, nursing
and technical staf, as well as premises, installations and equipment, should
be geared accordingly.
Treating prisoners in civil hospitals
As mentioned above, the prison itself cannot always guarantee all the spe‑
cialist care needed. Nearby hospitals often have to be used to fnd a solution
for more difcult medical problems. In case of recourse to a civil hospital, the
question of security arrangements will arise. Prisoners sent to a hospital to
receive treatment should not be physically attached to their hospital beds or
other items of furniture for custodial reasons. Other means of meeting security
needs satisfactorily can and should be found; the creation of a custodial unit
in such hospitals is one possible solution.6
1.2 Hygiene and health promotion
The task of a prison health‑care service should not be limited to treating sick
patients. In the absence of a specialised service, it is also their responsibility,
in co‑operation with competent authorities, to supervise catering arrange‑
ments (quality, quantity, preparation and distribution of food) and conditions
of hygiene (cleanliness of clothing and bedding, access to running water,
sanitary installations) as well as the heating, lighting and ventilation of cells.
Work and outdoor exercise arrangements should also be taken into consid‑
eration. Prison medical services should also cover mental hygiene, especially
preventing the harmful psychological efects of certain aspects of detention.
Unhealthy conditions, overcrowding, prolonged isolation and inactivity may
necessitate either medical assistance to individual prisoners and/or general
medical action by the responsible authority.7
6. CPT/Inf (2012)13.
7. CPT/Inf (2012)4.
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