Improving prison healthcare in the South East

Our 'Listen to Families' service at HMP Aylesbury, HMP Downview, HMP Elmley and HMP Huntercombe
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About Listen to Families

If you have a loved one with health problems who is currently in HMP Aylesbury, HMP Downview, HMP Elmley and HMP Huntercombe, we want to hear from you. 

Pact is piloting a new service with the NHS offering families the chance to shape how prison healthcare services are delivered and developed. The service aims to improve healthcare in prison 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. 

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. 

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.