I'm a prison detox nurse, ask me anything!

[fruitcider]

Jumping on the band wagon!

Obviously I cannot give out any info that breaches official secrets act or may put prison security at risk but I'll do my best to be as open as I can.

Many people in prison have had very difficult lives and have been let down by parents, family and services

Many also have mh issues

Isn’t prison punishment enough ?
Your freedom taken away to make decisions for yourself

And as for they argument some prefer to be in prison for someone to feel that way is very troubling

Do you think that prisons are more dangerous places to work in recent years with poor staffing levels? I remember there was quite a lot of press about it last year, but I can't remember the outcome

Yes it's dangerous. There's a lot of fights every day, serious P.O. staff assaults weekly. It's why I'm about ready to leave after 2 years in the job, which is a pity as I love working with my patient group - but I have to think of myself and my 5 year old, family comes first.

So sad that you & other excellent colleagues are leaving due to safety. However completely understandable

LoveProsseco - I'll return at some point I'm sure

fruitcider Sorry to re-open this thread, just wanted to see what you thought of this...

My Dad is now back home. He didn't get any medication the 2 weeks he was in prison, my Mom phoned their GP while he was in but they hadn't received a request.

He said he asked every day but was fobbed off. Also said he never had a medical check or anything like that.

He is on anti depressants and so I don't think 2 weeks off those, while in that situation, would have been helpful esp with his alcoholism.

Its a shame he didn't get any support for detoxing but then again he is in denial. I would guess although he went cold turkey for those 2 weeks, he will start drinking again if he hasn't already

We're moving this to AMA now.

Just thought I'd bump this one as I've now transferred to a female estate - are there any questions anyone has for me about women in prison? X

He said he asked every day but was fobbed off. Also said he never had a medical check or anything like that

He would have had a first night screen in the prison reception by a nurse, the template is the same nationwide and has specific questions to screen for physical and mental health problems or learning disabilities. At thus point the patients GP details are recorded and the next working day the GP is faxed and asked for a summary of any medication they are on and a break down of significant medical history. Then 72 hours later he should have had a secondary health screen asking pretty much the same questions again.

Hi @fruitcider
I have a question although it isn't about female prisons . Sorry if it turns out to be long .

My dad has been in and out of prison my whole life - he is an alcoholic and takes other substances , I'm not sure what. He has a cycle of being released , being out for a few weeks and committing minor offences (always alcohol related , usually petty theft / public disorder) then he will be sentenced, never more than a few month then released again . Upon release he is homeless , he can't get a council house because he drinks and is abusive at the council offices . He can no longer stay at the hostels because he is violent . I have very little to do with him now as I have young children and I can't have him around them but his sister has told me he's been to rehab several times and cleans himself up only to start drinking again within weeks if not days . In the past I have begged him to stop drinking so I can have a proper relationship with him .
I'd like to know what processes would happen when he's on remand and afterwards when he's been sent to prison to help him , and also is it common for prisoners to start drinking within hours of their release ? Is there anything you could suggest that I can do to help him when he is released to prevent him from drinking ? I really would like to get to know my dad but I don't know how .

Thanks

Thanks fruitcider, he's in the process of writing a complaint letter apparently. Not that I can much point?

NoDressSense, sorry to hear about your father.

I have worked in hostels etc as well so might be able to give a bit more of an in depth explanation....

Accommodation is split into 4 levels, with level 1 and 2 being most hostels.

If you are excluded from one project for having a history of eg violence towards staff, arson, schedule one offences then it's quite likely none of the other level 1/2 projects will House you.

He cannot access level 1/2 hostels or council housing because of his behaviour. I'm assuming he is also not suitable for a bail hostel because of this?

So my question is, where do you expect him to be housed? Because it sounds like he has eradicated all of his options.

He would have access to detoxification and psychosocial support in prison, however it's his responsibility to engage with local drug and alcohol services once released.

The odds for recovering from addiction are not very good, even with support in place. For example for those lucky enough to get 12 months funded inpatient rehab and manage to complete it, a year after they have left 1/3 will be dead, 1/3 will have relapsed and 1/3 will remain in recovery.

I wish you all the best - sounds like a terrible situation for you and him x

Thanks fruitcider, he's in the process of writing a complaint letter apparently. Not that I can much point?

There's definitely a point! Tell him to write to the head of healthcare at the prison he was in and the IMB. Good luck x

Do you have a prison pharmacist? It's something I'm interested in doing but not sure how you get into it.

What does 'see and take' mean and what does 'diverting' mean? Fascinating thread.

Do you have a prison pharmacist? It's something I'm interested in doing but not sure how you get into it.

Yes we do! We have a huuugggeeee pharmacy onsite. It's a very interesting job apparently 😊

What does 'see and take' mean and what does 'diverting' mean? Fascinating thread

See and take aka supervised consumption - the medication must be swallowed in front of a nurse at the medication hatch.

The medication hatch is a hole in the wall of the room containing all of the medication, covered with iron bars and a clear Perspex screen, with a hole 10cm x 10cm in it which is just big enough to fit through a cup of water and a pot of tablets. Me and a healthcare assistant stand in this to administer medication. The entrance has a lockable door and a huge iron barred gate over it, and that is located down a corridor with a locked door and a huge iron gate too.

Diverting aka concealing, palming, cheeking is the act of deliberately holding ones meds under their tongue, under their denture, in their cheek, or dropping it into their collar/top/sleeve/on the floor in order to save the medication for later, usually to trade for illicit drugs, hooch, tobacco, or other prescription drugs!

What does diverted mean?

See my post above yours 😊

My OH has issues with alcohol, luckily no DC involved at all. Do you need continual MDT support to stay off the alcohol? If an inmate/patient was really struggling from MDT perspective would you advocate longterm aftercare to prevent relapse?

The gov must be your biggest barrier, in terms of funding for such services!

you need continual MDT support to stay off the alcohol? If an inmate/patient was really struggling from MDT perspective would you advocate longterm aftercare to prevent relapse?

Detox is just the beginning. I would always advertise life time aftercare x

Thanks @FruitCider

advocate not advertise 😳 though I do feel like a walking advert for AA at times! X

Luckily OH has a good support network, so when he falls off the wagon there's a few people with input. It's just hard as obvs there's an underlying issue, but getting support for these when he's off the wagon is hard.

So getting the MDT support in place so it's continual is important.

Back at step 1, if having DC is ever going to be an option then being stable for a long period is a must.

How do you find relationships the addicts have are. Do you have many who are sound OH who want recovery for the addict, or is it usually a joint issue.

Obviously or you'd hope, if you have known other addicts then you'll be more empathetic to the cause, plus support for recovery and long term interventions.

I know that there is also situations when addiction can be an issue in a family unit / relationship, plus associates outside.

Sometimes you do wonder if you're a glutton for punishment. Thankfully seldom.

How do you find relationships the addicts have are. Do you have many who are sound OH who want recovery for the addict, or is it usually a joint issue.

I can't speak for the population in general but my patients who end up in custody come from some of the most deprived areas in the country, usually their partners ares addicts, their parents are addicts and most of their friends and family are addicts. They've usually been abused/neglected due to parental substance misuse and domestic violence, did not go school as their parents were too high/in prison to notice whether they went or not, as a result they cannot read or write. In their early 20s they already have children with a partner with a similar background to theirs and the cycle repeats itself.

OP - your job sounds fascinating.

Have you found differences in the pattern of drug behaviour/process etc in women’s prisons compared to male prisons? I assume that’s the case by what are the differences?

How do the challenges differ?

And do you feel safer in the women’s prison?

TIA