Commentary on Sections Part 2: Prisons Section 25: Removal of requirement to appoint a medical officer etc
115.Historically, prison health services were provided via a requirement in the Prison Act 1952 for each prison to appoint a medical officer. From April 2003, prison health services became the responsibility of the Secretary of State for health under separate existing legal provisions. This section removes the original requirement in the Prison Act 1952.
116.The original medical officer role is at odds with modern professional management of health services and the development of multi-disciplinary clinical teams and the role as envisaged by the original legislation has become defunct. As the NHS, in the form of Primary Care Trusts, have now assumed statutory responsibility for local prison health services, the original medical officer role is no longer required.