Given the known need for, and challenges of delivering, supportive and palliative care to the prison population, this developmental project aims to develop a funding application for the development, piloting and evaluation of interventions to support delivery of palliative and end of life care to prison populations.
Background
There is an increasing recognition of the need to deliver palliative and end of life care within the prison population. This is particularly important because this population is known to be growing, their health behaviours more risky, and their morbidity and mortality rates higher than those within the general population. Evidence has also been found of ‘accelerated aging’ in the prison population. In response, there has been a small but growing body of work exploring the experiences and challenges of delivering and accessing palliative and end of life care to this group, as well as highlighting areas of good practice. More recently, a key focus has been on the development of recommendations or interventions to support those who are involved in the delivery of palliative and supportive care to this group.
There are unique challenges in delivering supportive and palliative care to prison populations due to the ability of individuals to access services, delivering services that meet the particular needs of these individuals, and the ageing of this population. In addition, we conducted a review of the literature on palliative care for those with respiratory conditions who were also in prison (and for those who were homeless) and found a lack of contemporary understanding about the nature of supportive and palliative care for this population.
Project aims
This project aimed to develop a funding application aimed at developing, piloting and evaluating interventions to support delivery of palliative and end of life care in prison populations.
To achieve this, we:
- Reviewed the most recent relevant research literature
- Conducted local, regional, national stakeholder consultations with strategic partners
- Established and worked with a PPI group.
Working with the Research Design Service, PPI group and strategic partners we identified the key focus of the research bid and appropriate methodology, then developed and submitted the funding application.
Project activity
This study received RCF funding from Norfolk & Waveney CCG to support development work for the funding application.
Impact
- Plain English evidence briefings was prepared for commissioners highlighting current knowledge gaps, existing challenges in delivering palliative and supportive care to this population, examples of good practice and potential areas/mechanisms for intervention to support delivery across specialist and mainstream services.
- Submission of a funding application aimed at developing, piloting and evaluating interventions to support delivery of palliative and end of life care in prison populations
Who was involved?
Principle Investigator
Morag Farquhar, University of East Anglia
Researchers and institutions
Carole Gardener, University of East Anglia
Contact us
Morag Farquhar, M.Farquhar@uea.ac.uk
Related papers
Gardener AC, Kuhn I, Micklewright K, Farquhar. Supportive and palliative care of adults with respiratory problems experiencing structural vulnerability from homelessness, prison or other criminal justice system involvement. Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care 14(3):155-156, September 2020
