Question reference: S6W-25538
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 14 February 2024
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Current status: Answered by Angela Constance on 12 March 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many incidents have occurred, in each of the last five years, in which (a) prisoners and (b) prison staff have received medical attention as a result of coming into contact with illicit drugs in Scotland's prisons.
Answer
I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:
The health and wellbeing of those who live and work in our prisons is a key priority for the Scottish Prison Service and we continue to work with numerous organisations to offer those in their care a suite of support to address both their addiction and recovery journey.
1. Current reporting incident categories do not align with the above question and make it impossible to answer. SPS do however record instances of those in our care who are believed to be under the influence of substances.
SPS are reviewing reporting processes that should allow this information to be captured in a more robust and accurate manner.
2. Staff are advised in line with Staff Notice 053/17 to follow procedures if they believe they have been exposed to an unknown substance, this includes recording of the incident by way of an Accident at Work.
With regards to the recording of medical attention, NHS are responsible for the release of this information due to patient confidentiality; and in the case of SPS staff members, SPS will record accidents at work, however, it is at the individual’s discretion if they chose to report such incidents, despite advice and guidance detailed in staff notice 053/17.