NHS England - East - Health and Justice Commissioning - Health Needs Assessment Specification

NHS England wishes to commission health and social care needs assessments for the healthcare service in some prisons and in an immigration removal centre.

To commission effectively, it is essential that the commissioning cycle begins with a health needs assessment which examines the health needs of the establishment(s). This enables the commissioning team to understand disease prevalence, to identify services which respond to the health needs and to receive evidence-based recommendations for the services. The requirement is best practice in relation to commissioning, but is also mentioned in 'Expectations' (HMIP) in the section on governance:

'32. Prisoners are cared for by a health service that accurately assesses and meets their health needs while in prison and which promotes continuity of health and social care on release.

Indicators References

• Health services are informed by the assessed needs of the prison population and are planned, provided and quality assured through integrated working between the prison and its local health economy.'

In April 2015, local authorities assumed their responsibility for social care needs in prison. The HNAs must include a section on social care needs, how they are identified and how the provision of social care assessments and provision is measured, and how they can be integrated with the delivery of healthcare.

The HSCNAs required are as follows: