Medical examinations The CPT noted that that initial examination in the penitentiary establishments was often cursory and superficial (limited to a few general questions about the state of health and in most cases not including a full physical examination). Furthermore, the prisoners were not examined within 24 hours of their admission to prison (in some cases, the examination was delayed by several days, up to a week)165. Also, medical examinations were carried out in the presence of custodial staff and the prisoners were handcuffed (this applied to “N” status prisoners, according to the CPT comment).166. The CPT recommended that the Polish authorities: ➢ remind all prison health care staff that every newly-arrived prisoner should be properly interviewed and physically examined as soon as possible, and no later than 24 hours after admission, by a doctor or by a fully-qualified nurse reporting to a doctor)167; ➢ ensure that all medical examinations of prisoners are conducted out of the hearing and -unless the doctor concerned expressly requests otherwise in a particular case -out of the sight of prison officers); ➢ stop the practice of routine application of means of restraint to "N" status prisoners during medical examinations. 168. Both visited establishments implemented the recommendation in part. Newly arrived prisoners are examined by a doctor or a nurse within 24 hours (the remand prison Warszawa-Białołęka) or within three working days (the remand prison Warszawa-Służewiec) of their arrival. The examination usually takes place without the presence of Prison Service officers, unless in individual cases medical staff asks them for assistance due to security reasons. However, persons who have arrived from other penitentiary facilities do not undergo the initial medical examination. As a rule, they are examined at the previous facility, before being transported to the new one. This practice generates the risk of not detecting injuries that could originate when the prisoner was convoyed.169. Situations in which the medical examination of a prisoner was superficial and was limited only to an interview, without a full body examination, were still reported. 165 Ibid., para. 78. 166 Ibid., para. 79. 167 Ibid., para. 78. 168 Ibid., para. 79. 169 The issue has been described in detail in the chapter on systemic problems in penitentiary establishments. 71