Polmont wins award for healthcare
20 Oct 05
YOI's excellence of health service recognised in World Health Organisation competition
Polmont Young Offenders Institution has won an award for its healthcare.
The institution was entered into the first ever World Health Organisation competition for best practice in healthcare in prisons. Four other prisons - in Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands and Romania - also joined Polmont to receive awards for excellence. Representatives from the prison received the award at a ceremony in London.
Tony Cameron, chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service, said he was very proud of Polmont's achievement.
More than 2,000 young offenders pass through Polmont every year and there are up to 680 patients at any one time. Staff at the health centre meet with every inmate when they arrive and provide a primary care, mental health and addictions service for them.
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said Polmont did a good job for young people with problems and that she would be writing to the prison to praise all those involved.