PiC wins Norfolk Prison Contract

26 August 2010

Partnerships in Care (PiC) is delighted to have won a contract to provide part of an integrated healthcare solution to NHS Norfolk. PiC will supply psychiatric in-reach services in the Norfolk prisons (HMP Bure, HMP Wayland and HMP Norwich). The head contract for the healthcare solution in the Norfolk prisons will be held by Serco Health and PiC will be working with Serco and Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust in the provision of an integrated healthcare service.

Working with primary mental healthcare, the in-reach team will work with prisoners with serious mental disorders. The team will work to provide a very high quality and innovative service to this group of men.

The principle objectives of in-reach are to address the mental health needs of prisoners and wherever possible offer appropriate treatment in prison.

The focus of PiC's role in the contract will be:
- assessment and treatment
- long term maintenance of prisoners with serious mental disorders
- management and advice to wing staff and other professionals
- continuity of care through the CPA process

Fred Sinclair-Brown, Group Chief-Executive said: ‘This is an exciting new venture for Partnerships in Care - one where we will work with other agencies in evolving services to meet the needs of these three prisons. We hope to tender for other opportunities like this in the future.’

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Notes to Editors:

-          Partnerships in Care (PiC) is the UK’s leading independent provider of specialist mental health care and related services. For over 25 years PIC has been providing specialist secure psychiatric care for patients with mental illnesses and learning disabilities. The Company is committed to delivering quality services which extend the choice and range of care and provision for its patients and purchasers.

-          Serco Health will be the lead provider for the integrated health contract which includes primary care (GP services), psychiatric in-reach, psychological therapies, pharmacy and related healthcare activities. PiC will be delivering the psychiatric in-reach work of the contract, which will go live on 1 October.

-          The prisons in the contract are: HMP Norwich – Category B, C and D (760 male prisoners); HMP Wayland – Category C (1010 male prisoners), and HMP Bure – Category C (250 male prisoners).

-          The service will be subject to constant review and improved according to needs. A programme of clinical audit will ensure that the highest standards of care and treatment are met within a framework of continual improvement.

-          Forthcoming meetings will look at the specifics of service delivery and meet the staff from the Norfolk and Waverley Mental Health Provider Trust who may join PiC on a TUPE basis.

-          A programme of clinical audit will ensure that the highest standards of care and treatment are met within a framework of continual improvement.