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<p>The NHS in England and Wales are responsible for health services within prisons,
including physical and mental health provision. These services have now returned to
business as usual with the full range of services that were provided pre-pandemic
being offered. Prisons continue to work closely with the UK Health Security Agency
(UKHSA) and Health Protection Teams to respond to communicable disease incidents and
outbreaks which occur and protect the health of everyone who lives and works in them.</p><p>Together
with health and justice partners, we will continue to improve services in prison to
ensure that people have access to timely and effective healthcare that is tailored
to their needs. This is reflected in the new National Partnership Agreement on Health
and Social Care in England which was published on 23 February 2023. For the first
time, the National Partnership Agreement has been expanded to include offenders in
the community, delivering on our commitment to improve continuity of care and champion
a system wide approach. The new agreement sets out a shared priority workplan to deliver
safe, decent and effective care that improves physical and mental health outcomes
for people in prison and those subject to statutory supervision by the probation service
in the community. The Ministry of Justice, His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service,
Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and the UKHSA have committed to
working together and sharing accountability for delivery through our linked governance
structures.</p>
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