Accessing primary care in the community after discharge
Research type
Research Study
Full title
What are the experiences of service users accessing primary health care services in the community following discharge from forensic secure services and the experiences of professionals supporting them?
IRAS ID
256451
Contact name
Nicola Moran
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of York
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
Forensic mental health services provide treatment to individuals with a mental health illness and a history of criminal offending. Individuals who are receiving treatment and support from forensic services will often spend a significant amount of time in inpatient secure hospital if criminal courts deem they should be in hospital instead of prison.
The transition from forensic inpatient secure services to the community is significant. Whilst an inpatient, an individual has automatic access to a range of physical health services. However, when discharged into the community, the individual then has the responsibility for accessing primary healthcare services such as the GP. This is important because the death rates of those with severe mental health difficulties who have had admissions into secure services is significantly higher. We also know that factors that are detrimental to physical health are intrinsically related to mental health difficulties and subsequent lifestyle and treatment. By finding out what the experiences are of those who have been inpatients in secure forensic services and by identifying potential barriers to accessing primary care in the community, we will hopefully be able to identify ways in which service users can best be supported to access and engage with primary healthcare services when in the community.
The research will involve interviewing approximately 10 participants (5 service users who are currently living in the community after discharge from forensic secure services and 5 mental health professionals/staff working in supported accommodation services). These interviews will explore the experience of service users accessing primary healthcare services and of professionals working with service users in the community. The participants will be recruited from the forensic community service and supported accommodation services in the area.
The interviews will be semi-structured; this will allow for elaboration from participants and for the researcher to ask further questions where deemed necessary and important. The interview will be recorded on a password protected device and uploaded to the University of York’s secure file space as soon as possible. The interviews will last approximately an hour and will take place between February – July 2019.
REC name
Wales REC 5
REC reference
19/WA/0098
Date of REC Opinion
27 Mar 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion