11/03/2025
News
Pact publishes landmark report on supporting loved ones in prison with health issues
Pact has been listening. Over the last two years, our Listen to Families service has interviewed over 1,500 families in prison visitors' centres and heard about their experiences of supporting their loved ones in prison with health issues.
Families were remarkably willing to talk to us. Perhaps this was due to the acuity of their needs, or perhaps it was because of the trust Pact has built through decades of service as a health and justice provider. Whatever the reason, families entrusted us with their stories.
Our landmark report, '1,500 Voices', brings together what we have heard. Our analysis, summarising hundreds of hours spent listening to families, shares the themes and issues that come up time and again.
Families' stories can be challenging to read. Their experiences often reflect deep distress, trauma, and feelings of powerlessness. However, about one-third of families with experience of prison healthcare share positive feedback, even if they have mixed experiences. They value the positive work of prison healthcare teams and the care they provide to their loved ones. Seemingly small actions can have a significant impact on families' overall experiences.
Nearly half of families report entirely negative experiences. They highlight a variety of concerns, including delays, missed appointments, unsatisfactory care, feeling dismissed, and insufficient pain relief. The impact of prison life on health and wellbeing is profound, with fanilies' challenges often spanning healthcare, prison, and community boundaries.
One in six families raise safeguarding concerns that need escalation. These families often share valuable insights that can enhance clinical understanding, helping healthcare teams provide care that leads to better health outcomes.
To tackle these issues, we are working with NHS London and healthcare providers across the capital. We have created a new Carers' Charter, outlining nine proactive steps for involving families and carers more proactively. We have also published Your Guide to Prison Healthcare to empower families to play a more active role in their loved ones' care.
Nevertheless, there is always more we can do. Drawing on insights from families and our team of representatives—each with personal experience supporting loved ones in prison with health issues—we developed key recommendations for systemic change. These proposals aim to reshape structures, practices, culture, and accountability frameworks.
We are eager to collaborate with the NHS, prisons, and healthcare providers to implement cross-boundary solutions that improve outcomes for staff, families, and patients alike.
Families can play a crucial role in supporting their loved ones in prison when they are unwell. They know their loved ones best. They are invaluable when systems fall short, often acting as the glue holding their loved ones together. For too long, the contribution of carers to the health and wellbeing of people in prison has been overlooked. It is time to unlock their potential.