GMMH partners with Bridgewater at HMP Prisons
Healthcare services at HMP Garth and HMP Wymott are now provided by a new partnership of NHS Trusts.
The contract was awarded to Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) and Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (Bridgewater) for both Garth and Wymott prisons, based in Leyland, Lancashire, by NHS England following a commissioning process in 2016.
GMMH currently provide substance misuse services within HMP Garth and Wymott and in addition are providing specialist mental health services. The GMMH service supports those experiencing mental ill health or who require substance misuse support. Interventions will be available, which include the assessment and early identification of mental health and substance misuse problems. Specialist interventions aimed at supporting recovery will be provided by a team of specialist practitioners.
Healthcare will include those services normally provided in the community including GPs, optician, dentist, physiotherapy and podiatry. Health improvement services such as screening, immunisation, vaccination and lifestyle improvement support will also be available.
GMMH and Bridgewater already have established partnerships in a variety of custodial settings, including HMP Hindley in Wigan, HMP Risley and HMP Thorn Cross in Warrington plus Barton Moss in Salford.
The partnership will also be working with Phoenix Futures to provide support for people with substance misuse problems and Lancashire County Council for social care assessment and provision.
Bridgewater Assistant Director of Operations for Health and Justice Services, Karen Plant said: “We are delighted to be using our expertise and experience of providing community healthcare services within prison settings to people in HMP Garth and HMP Wymott.
“This is an exciting opportunity for us to build on the existing partnership we have with GMMH in other prisons.”
GMMH Director of Nursing and Operations, Gill Green, said: “We’re excited to be able to provide mental health and substance misuse services to people in HMP Garth and HMP Wymott.
“We have an existing range of partners, who will be supporting people already accessing services, so we can ensure their treatment and recovery is not disrupted.
“GMMH will be there to help and support people with their mental health and substance misuse needs and our services will be available during core prison regime hours, seven days a week, with a healthcare professional available 24 hours a day.”
