Improving cancer care in prisons
People in prisons with cancer have substantially poorer outcomes than comparable groups in the general population. Underpinning these are challenges throughout the care pathway, including in awareness of symptoms, implementing effective screening and diagnosis, accessing care and support, and continuity of treatment.
In March 2022, we convened a Policy Lab to explore practical ideas for improving cancer outcomes for people in prison. Researchers, professionals from health and prison services, charities, policymakers, and those with personal experience of the relevant issues reflected on the evidence from the wider study, discussed the challenges at different points in the care pathway, and developed concrete proposals that could lead to improvement in the next three years. These are set out in the report from the Lab, along with a wider set of proposals for improvements throughout the care pathway. A summary version, focusing on the four proposals prioritised by the groups, is also available.
This work was completed as part of the NIHR-funded study “How is cancer care best provided to patients in English prisons? Assessing the disease burden in the prison population, experiences of diagnosis, treatment and support, and of receiving and providing cancer care” (PI: Elizabeth Davies; project number 16/52/53). The study’s main findings were published in April 2024.