‘Open clinics’ are a new model of healthcare delivery that enables people in custody to see a nurse without the need for an appointment. The clinics are held in more accessible areas of the prison enabling patients to approach and interact with health staff without delay.
During an open clinic, nurses can screen, assess, refer and escalate health concerns onsite, reducing wait times for urgent care and addressing health enquires more efficiently.
Justice Health NSW General Manager Primary Care Rose Lougheed said the open clinic initiative was developed in direct response to staff and patient feedback.
“Justice Health NSW is committed to transforming the lives of people in contact with the criminal justice system through patient centred healthcare across community, inpatient and custodial settings,” Ms Lougheed said.
“Through this care Justice Health NSW will address some of the underlying causes which lead people to come in contact with the justice system and to returning healthier people to their communities.
“We know that access is our main barrier when it comes to delivering healthcare to people in custody.
“By making our nurses available for face-to-face consultations with patients, we are bringing healthcare directly to our patients who may otherwise be limited by location, or difficulties using current paper self-referral forms and telephone lines.
“Improving access to early care and treatment can improve the quality of life for our patients and potentially reduce the need for further and more expensive hospital care later on.
“This is a fantastic step forward for our frontline staff in effectively triaging healthcare requests and developing rapport with patients to assist them on their healthcare journey through custody.”
Early data from the pilot indicates positive outcomes, with 95 per cent of patients reporting the open clinic helped address their health concerns.
