Assessment of training opportunities for health-care personnel in prisons

Overview

This document provides an overview of postgraduate education and training offered for the prison health-care workforce. The information was obtained in a scoping review supplemented by a targeted survey by the WHO Health In Prisons Steering Committee. A total of 31 courses were identified, covering 12 domains of training, which are compiled in a repository. The courses varied widely in terms of duration, learning methods and access. The responses obtained suggest that the areas considered to be essential or desirable for training are human rights, delivering health care in prisons and mental health. The training gaps identified in this survey highlight two priorities. First, the skills and expertise of senior health-care managers should be strengthened. Secondly, comprehensive, verified courses are necessary to increase the clinical and care skills of the multidisciplinary teams required for the prison population.