The Health of NSW Prisoners
Reverend the Hon. Dr GORDON MOYES: I direct my question to the Minister representing the Minister for Health. Is the Minister aware of recent investigations by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, which reports that prisoners in Australia have very poor health status in comparison to the general community? Is the Minister aware that 25 per cent of all prisoners have chronic conditions such as asthma, cardiovascular disease or diabetes; that 80 per cent are constant cigarette smokers; that 52 per cent consume alcohol at risky levels; and that 71 per cent admit to having used illicit drugs during the past year of incarceration? Is the Minister further aware that 37 per cent of prison entrants reported having received a mental health diagnosis at some time; 43 per cent had received a head injury resulting in a loss of consciousness; and 31 per cent had been referred to prison mental services? Can the Minister inform the House what steps will be taken to improve health services for prisoners? [Time expired.]
The Hon. JOHN HATZISTERGOS: I thank the member for his question and for the sensitivity of his interest in this matter. It is easy to discard prisoners and their health and, for a number of reasons, not to give these issues appropriate attention. However, it is important to acknowledge that many of those who come into contact with the justice system and who ultimately are incarcerated have significant health issues—not only mental health issues and chronic diseases but also a range of other risky behaviours that can manifest themselves in a number of adverse health issues. The Government is investing $129.9 million to deliver better services for Justice Health in 2009-10, which is an increase of $7.5 million, or 6.1 per cent on figures for the previous year.
This Government has invested significant resources not only to provide care for the disadvantaged population but also to minimise the public health risks in prison and in the general community. Inmates generally have poor health, which is characterised by general neglect, substance abuse and mental illness. As many members would be aware, a significant proportion of the persons in the prison system are of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander descent. Justice Health participated in the research that was released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Justice Health has also published three inmate health surveys—in 1996, in 2001, and most recently in 2009.
The findings from those surveys have greatly assisted in directing efforts to areas identified as high prevalence, or gaps in the system. For instance, inside prison, Justice Health has enhanced its reception triage process and has developed a clinical pathway for mentally ill offenders by establishing screening units jointly with Corrective Services. Justice Health has improved its care for inmates with drug and alcohol addiction, including expanded access to methadone and a post-release support scheme. Justice Health has also expanded its early detection program for infectious diseases such as hepatitis C. These and other initiatives will ensure immediate health care for people who are newly arriving into custody.
It is important to ensure that these resources are provided not only in the interests of inmates but also in the interests of the general community. In my time as Minister for Health, in the Corrective Services portfolio and also in this portfolio there have been many instances when persons who have come into conflict with the law have raised issues about inadequate health care being provided in the prison system as the reason that they should not be subject to the penalties that the criminal law would impose upon them. The answer is to ensure that we provide appropriate health resources for those people so that that argument does not prevent justice from being done.