Cancer support team win national award for bringing provision to prisoners

An outreach cancer support programme, run by the Mustard Tree Macmillan Cancer Support Centre to support prisoners at HMP Dartmoor, has won an award from the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).

The team were presented the first place award for ‘Best Clinical Team’ at the RCGP’s Health and Justice Summit earlier this year by the RCGP Secure Environments Group, for their commitment to delivering a high standard of care within the health and justice system.

Annie and Judy “We started a pilot project to assess the level of cancer support provision for patients in prison,” explains Annie Charles, Project Manager for the Mustard Tree at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust. “We quickly realised that there was a significant gap in supportive care for detainees living with a cancer diagnosis, or affected by cancer of a relative.”

The Mustard Tree Centre is situated on level 3 of Derriford Hospital, opposite the entrance to the Royal Eye Infirmary. Support is available to anyone affected by cancer, including relatives and carers of patients, at any stage. However, it is not currently possible for prisoners to make use of this facility.

Inspired by a particular patient, and determined to address the perceived inequality, Annie set out to create an outreach programme, with support from colleagues at the Mustard Tree. In collaboration with both the healthcare and prison team at HMP Dartmoor, Annie now visits the prison once a month, offering 1:1 support and advice consultations to individuals. These visits provide a private and confidential space for patients to speak openly about their worries or concerns, and Annie is able to provide emotional support, help with decision-making, offer a care plan and signpost to additional services.

“It’s all about bringing the Mustard Tree, and all it offers, to them,” adds Annie. “Being diagnosed with cancer can be incredibly frightening, and individuals in prison can feel very isolated and experience increased levels of anxiety. We’ve had some really good feedback so far; with patients reporting that they have found the support ‘vital’ and ‘invaluable’.”

In addition to individual appointments, the programme also offers a telephone line that both those in custody and their relatives can call for support and information, access to Macmillan Cancer Support information booklets, education on a range of health and wellbeing topics, and liaison with the individual’s clinical team. As a result of the collaboration, the healthcare team at HMP Dartmoor have also started running an in-house support group for those living with cancer and developed a ‘buddy’ system.

Annie and Sheridan McGinlay from HMP Dartmoor Raising awareness of the help available at the Mustard Tree has encouraged relatives of prisoners to seek support, too. One family member commented: “I’ve been so worried about my son’s health, and didn’t feel I could talk to anyone because no one knows he’s in prison. I’m so grateful for [the team’s] help and kindness.”

“We’re really pleased with the recognition by the RCGP for the work we’ve undertaken,” summarises Judy Horne, Programme Assistant who supports project with Annie. “We aren’t aware of any other UK project delivering this type of supportive care, so we are now hopeful that this programme can be replicated across the country, to help even more people living with cancer while in custody.”

Natasha Head, Head of Healthcare at HMP Dartmoor, added: “We are really grateful to Annie and her team for the supportive care they provide. Here at HMP Dartmoor we are highly focussed on the health and wellbeing of our prisoners and the success of this project is also a reflection of my compassionate colleagues making it possible.”