Listen to Families

Our Listen to Families service supports families to play a proactive role in the care of their loved-ones in prison, whether they suffer from a physical or mental health problem.
Improving Prison Healthcare
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About Listen to Families

If you have a loved one in a London or South East prison with health problems, we want to hear from you. 

Pact is delivering an innovative programme with the NHS offering families the chance to shape how prison healthcare services are delivered and developed. The service aims to improve healthcare in prisons by giving families a more proactive role in the care of their loved ones in custody.

We support families and loved ones to share their experiences of prison healthcare – and help prisons and healthcare providers to listen to them. We talk to decision-makers about how systems could be improved so that prison healthcare is better for everyone. 

Available at HMP Aylesbury, HMP Belmarsh, HMP Brixton, HMP Downview, HMP Elmlea, HMP Huntercombe, HMP YOI Isis, HMP YOI Feltham, HMP Pentonville, HMP Thameside, HMP Wandsworth, HMP Wormwood Scrubs

Share your experience 

*You can read our privacy notice at www.prisonadvice.org.uk/privacy. 

Concerned about a loved one in prison? 

If you have an urgent or life-threatening concern about the health and wellbeing of your loved one, please get in touch with the prison directly. Contact details in the event of an emergency are available on the Prisoners' Families Helpline website

Why families’ voices matter 

Families and carers tell us that they often feel locked out of decisions around their loved one’s care in prison and that their fears and concerns are ignored. Not only does this adversely affect prisoners’ health and wellbeing, but it also causes unnecessary stress and anxiety to family members. The situation is placing additional pressure on an already overwhelmed NHS. 

Starting in London, the Listen to Families programme aims to create mechanisms and opportunities for families’ voices to be heard and to influence how prison healthcare is delivered and developed. 

Listen to Families aims to: 

  • Improve families’ and carers’ experiences of health and justice services
  • Ensure that commissioners and providers identify, consult on, and meet families’ and carers’ needs
  • Listen to families’ and carers’ voices and address their experiences and concerns about health and justice services, finding viable solutions to improve services
  • Ensure that commissioners and providers implement and address service changes confidentially in consultation with families and carers. 
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Come to our Coffee Morning

If you have a loved one in prison in London or the South-East, you are welcome to join us at our Listen to Families Coffee Morning. Each session is a safe, non-judgemental space and a great opportunity to meet others who know what it's like. Our friendly and professional team will be there to help out, and coffee and breakfast are on us!

If you would like to come along, please email listentofamilies@prisonadvice.org.uk for more information.

Our reports and key documents

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1,500 Voices: What it's like to support your loved one in prison with health issues

Our flagship report describing families' experiences of supporting their loved ones in prison with health issues, based on over 1,500 interviews. 

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Listening Report Autumn 2024: Dental and oral healthcare

Listening Report Q2 24/25: Families' experiences of dental and oral healthcare in prison

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Executive Summary Front Page

Independent Evaluation of Listen to Families London

An independent evaluation of the Listen to Families London service, June 2024

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Listening Report Summer 2024

Listening Report Q1 24-25: Healthcare in Prison - How to Support Your Loved One

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Family And Carers’ Charter For Health And Justice We Value The Important Role That Families And Carers Play In Their Loved Ones’ Healthcare And Are Committed To Listening To Them. This Charter Has (1)

The Family and Carers' Charter for Health and Justice

A set of commitments made by NHS London, healthcare providers in London prisons.

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Listening Report Spring 2024

Listening Report Q4 2023/24: The opportunity of the Family and Carers' Charter for Health and Justice

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Rights And Legal Tools

Families' rights and legal tools

A review of the rights of families and legal tools available to those supporting their loved ones with health needs in prison

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How We Work

How we work

How we work with the NHS and healthcare providers as we prepare our reports

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Listening Report Winter 2023-24

Winter Listening Report 2023-24: Building trust and transparency

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Interviews With Families

Summer 2023 Annex

A summary of semi-structured interviews with families and carers in London prison visiting centres

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Summer 2023 Update To Families

Summer update to families

Summer update to families - June 2023

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Listening Report May 2023

Listening Report Spring 2023

Listening Report May 2023

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