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05/03/2009
Prisioners Get Medical Advice 'On Screen'
One of Northern Ireland's largest prisons, Magilligan in Co Londonderry, has successfully linked up with a local hospital to carry out clinical consultations.
The Causeway Hospital in Coleraine yesterday used sophisticated 'Telemedicine' - which is the effective use of videoconferencing equipment - to assess prisoners' illnesses.
A spokesman said this approach is fast becoming an established approach to clinical work in the UK but added this is the first time it has been introduced to any of the prison establishments in Northern Ireland.
Governor of Magilligan Prison, Tom Woods, welcoming the initiative said: "Telemedicine is a cost effective and security conscious way of treating prisoners within the perimeters of the prison.
"There is a limit as to how much this can or could be used; for example any prisoner requiring accident and emergency, or an X-ray will obviously have to physically attend hospital.
"However, there are a number of cases such as when blood can be taken within the prison and safely transported out and if the results necessitate a consultation, it can be performed via a video link," he said.
"Telemedicine is cost effective and reduces the number of escorts between prison and hospital, which can be expensive and time consuming.
"Furthermore, the prisoner may prefer to have a video consultation since he will not be in public handcuffed to a prison officer and this also reduces the risk of any potential escape," he continued.
A spokesperson in Causeway Hospital said the consultation "went very well" and he "hoped there would be further opportunities to use this medium in the future".
(BMcC/JM)
The Causeway Hospital in Coleraine yesterday used sophisticated 'Telemedicine' - which is the effective use of videoconferencing equipment - to assess prisoners' illnesses.
A spokesman said this approach is fast becoming an established approach to clinical work in the UK but added this is the first time it has been introduced to any of the prison establishments in Northern Ireland.
Governor of Magilligan Prison, Tom Woods, welcoming the initiative said: "Telemedicine is a cost effective and security conscious way of treating prisoners within the perimeters of the prison.
"There is a limit as to how much this can or could be used; for example any prisoner requiring accident and emergency, or an X-ray will obviously have to physically attend hospital.
"However, there are a number of cases such as when blood can be taken within the prison and safely transported out and if the results necessitate a consultation, it can be performed via a video link," he said.
"Telemedicine is cost effective and reduces the number of escorts between prison and hospital, which can be expensive and time consuming.
"Furthermore, the prisoner may prefer to have a video consultation since he will not be in public handcuffed to a prison officer and this also reduces the risk of any potential escape," he continued.
A spokesperson in Causeway Hospital said the consultation "went very well" and he "hoped there would be further opportunities to use this medium in the future".
(BMcC/JM)
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BELFAST MATERNITY UNIT CONSULTATION ANNOUNCED
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:A mostly dry evening and night with a widespread frost developing along with freezing fog, which could become extensive, especially in the south. Winds remaining light. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
