Unmet treatment needs of older prisoners: a primary care survey.
BACKGROUND
little is known about the treatment needs of older prisoners and to what extent they are being met.


METHODS
representative sample of 203 sentenced prisoners aged 60 and over in 15 prisons in England and Wales.


METHODS
case notes were surveyed using a standardised proforma and information on current medication was collected.


RESULTS
three-quarters of older prisoners were prescribed medication. Those with cardiovascular, respiratory and endocrine health problems were prescribed medication that was mostly appropriately targeted. In contrast, only 18% of inmates with recorded psychiatric morbidity were prescribed psychotropic medication.


CONCLUSIONS
reviewing the medical records of older prisoners and considering the appropriateness of their current medication regime would be a primary care intervention that could significantly improve the health of this marginalized group.
Fazel
Seena
S
Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK.
Hope
Tony
T
O'Donnell
Ian
I
Jacoby
Robin
R
D000368:Aged; D003625:Data Collection; D004739:England; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D011329:Prisoners; D014852:Wales