MP's questions over prison dementia care

about dementia care for prisoners.

Fylde MP Mark Menzies wrote to the Secretary of State for Health to ask: “What services are currently provided for prison inmates with dementia.”

He also asked what the current budget is for treating dementia in prisons.

Ben Gumme, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, told Mr Menzies, who is a campaigner for dementia treatment: “Prisoners with dementia should be offered the treatment and care they require, equivalent to that provided to people with similar needs in the community.

“Health services in prisons are commissioned by NHS England to meet the health needs of prisoners. Every person entering a prison will have an initial health screen at reception where health needs are assessed and where appropriate referrals are made to other services.

“Prisoners with dementia who also have care and support needs will have these assessed and any eligible care needs will be met by the local authority in which the prison is situated.

“The budget for treating dementia in prisons cannot be reported separately, as the budget is not disaggregated into specific treatment provision.”