66 npm annual report 2016 /observations and recommendations Parliamentary Ombudsman conducted a pre-announced visit to the Prison Hospital in Hämeenlinna. The purpose of the visit was to investigate a matter initiated as a complaint. The outpatient clinic is almost always visited at the same time as the relevant prison. In this connection, prisoners are usually heard, gaining an impression of their experiences of the outpatient clinic’s operation and of aspects to which special attention should be paid when visiting the clinic. In Turku outpatient clinic of the Prisoners’ Health Care Unit, keeping the clinic open during the weekends and having a doctor in attendance every weekday were considered positive aspects. The NPM also welcomed the fact that the prisoners have access to a dentist four days a week and that there is no queue for dental care. • The Ombudsman observed that incoming prisoners’ check-ups are almost exclusively based on an extensive interview. The form used in the check-ups does not contain questions about injuries or a body chart in which injuries could be recorded. The Ombudsman emphasised that the CPT report on Finland drew attention to the procedure of recording injuries claimed to result from inappropriate treatment. This comment also concerned incoming prisoners’ check-ups. The Ombudsman also pointed out that the persons conducting the check-up should take into account the possibility that the prisoner may have been subjected to physical violence before arrival in the prison while in the custody of another authority as a person deprived of his or her liberty. The Ombudsman stressed that if appropriate documentation in this phase is lacking, the possibility of referring the matter to investigation by the authorities, if this is what the victim would like, is usually lost – or at least the investigation is hampered. This is important in terms of the legal protection of persons deprived of their liberty and, on the other hand, of those authorities or other actors at whom suspicions are levelled. The Ombudsman recommended that any signs of physical violence be discussed with the patient and that their absence is also recorded in the patient documents. If injuries are found, an appointment with a doctor should be made for the prisoner, so that the injuries can be examined and recorded appropriately. • A screening of treatment needs had been carried out for all inmates serving a life sentence in the prison in the previous year. The Ombudsman felt that this was a step in the right direction. The clinic was encouraged to continue this type of screening activities at regular intervals. The Ombudsman also recommended that the clinic carry out a screening of the treatment needs of other prisoners serving long sentences.