PRISONS operation of the penal system with its separate aspects, i.e. legislative, judicial and 22 correctional, in the framework of a mid-term penal and correctional policy…». 2.b.2 Systemic weaknesses: understaffing, remote premises, access issues Many issues that came up during NPM inspections, e.g shortcomings in education, leisure, employment and training activities, were aggravated due to severe understaffing. This led to either complete absence of vital services (lack of social services in the detention facility in Kos) or insufficient response to the detainees' needs (the case of the detention facility in Malandrino). In addition, inspection findings showed that limited mass transportation access to remote detention facilities had a severe negative impact on regular visiting hours. The problem could only be mitigated with video-based visits using Skype or other equivalent equipment. Lack of flexibility from the prison administration regarding the handling of medical emergencies amplifies problems associated with the remote location of certain detention facilities. For example, in the case of Malandrino detention facility, when the required medical assistance is not available in the Health Center of Lidoriki or the Hospitals of Amphissa or Lamia, detainees are not transferred to the nearest Malandrino detention facility, Fokida - inspection on 25-26/11/19 22 Ombudsman, Prevention of torture and ill-treatment – Special report 2015, p.3 https:// www.synigoros.gr/resources/docs/npm_2015_en.pdf 25