There are almost 86,000 people in the prison system in the United Kingdom, held in 118 prisons and nine immigration removal centres. People in the carceral system have some of the most complex health and social care needs in all of society. They have higher rates of cardiovascular disease, mental health issues, substance misuse problems, and the prison setting can increase the spread of infectious diseases. Therefore, they require complex, multidisciplinary care that is person-centred and that does not treat them as a prisoner, but rather as a patient.

As the specialty of prison medicine develops, this brand new Oxford Specialist Handbook provides an introduction to the discipline, offering a definitive hands-on guide that brings together up-to-date policy and guidance alongside practical tips for practitioners working in the prison estate. Focusing on the multidisciplinary care required to best protect the health of people in prison, this new title brings together perspectives from GPs, psychiatrists, nurses, and occupational therapists on how to best deliver care within the constraints of the detention setting.