Health Services for People in Custody

We offer primary, acute and trauma care, as well as mental health and addiction support. We operate within the correctional centres as an independent service.

We are part of B.C.’s health care system. B.C. is one of the first provinces in Canada to move responsibility for health care in correctional centres from the Ministry of Justice to the Ministry of Health.

Our job is to ensure that clients receive the same quality of care as they would in the community. We also ensure that their care continues once they are discharged and return to their lives.

Who are correctional health services for?

People in correctional centres are often in poorer health than the general population. They are also more likely to live with chronic illness. Often, they have faced barriers to care before becoming incarcerated.

When someone is admitted to a provincial correctional facility, our team will give them an initial health and mental health assessment. We work to build a relationship with them so that they choose to use our services for routine health care, addictions support and mental health care.

What to expect from Correctional Health Services

While an individual is incarcerated in a B.C. provincial correctional centre, they have access to the following health care services:

• Medical and nursing care
• Mental health and substance use treatment programs and services
• Basic emergency response services
• Public health services such as vaccine clinics
• Urgent dental care
• Pharmacy services
• X-ray imaging and lab work
• Indigenous cultural care and services
• Health-related discharge planning to help them transition successfully to community-based care

The correctional services health care team includes physicians, nurses, mental health and substance use specialists, pharmacists, peer support workers and other professionals. People in custody can also see specialists via virtual health service.

Support for people with opioid use disorder

People in custody are much more likely to live with a mental illness or substance use disorder than the general population. In fact, nearly 70 per cent of people in custody have either a mental illness, substance use disorder, or both.

We offer access to opioid agonist treatment. This treatment uses medications to help people manage addiction and withdrawal symptoms. These medications might include Suboxone, Subclade and methadone.

If someone is already on opioid agonist treatment when they are admitted to a correctional centre, we ensure they can stay on their medication. When that individual is about to be discharged, we provide a prescription for their opioid agonist therapy. We will also connect them to a community physician so they can continue their treatment.

Community transition teams

When a person’s sentence is complete, the community transition teams will help them transition safely to the community.

Resources for Indigenous clients

A dedicated Indigenous patient navigator can support people while they are receiving care from Correctional Health Services. The patient navigator ensures that they have access to high-quality care that is free of discrimination.

The patient navigator can support people by incorporating Indigenous wellness practices as part of their treatment plan. They can also facilitate access to Indigenous-specific programming that is culturally safe and relevant.

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You or your loved one can request support from the patient navigator at any point during the sentence. You can ask any member of your health care team to submit a referral.

The Indigenous patient navigator provides:

• Holistic care planning and Indigenous wellness programming
• Individual cultural and spiritual supports, including coordination and access to Sacred Spaces
• Client and family advocacy
• Help in addressing and/or reporting care that is harmful or discriminatory
• Health system navigation, including support with communicating to your health care team

The patient navigator can also assist with:

• Discharge planning and resource coordination
• Connecting with First Nations Health Benefits or Non-Insured Health Benefits program for First Nations or Inuit
• Connecting with other sources of support available to all Indigenous patients

Concerns and complaints

People in custody have the right to receive medical treatment that meets their needs. 

That means they can expect to:

• Receive care in the most humane and least restrictive environment possible
• Co-create a treatment plan with their care team
• Invite family to be involved in care planning
• Request changes to their care plan
• Access a doctor, nurse or counsellor for help with a physical, mental health or substance use issue
• Be treated with respect by staff
• Discuss any concerns with the health care team

A person’s health care information is confidential. It is not shared with anyone outside of the care team. Information is only shared if there is a risk that they might harm themselves or others, or in a medical emergency.

People in custody who have concerns about their health care treatment have the right to share those concerns with their health care team. If their concerns are not addressed by the team, they can request and submit a complaint form. If their concerns still aren’t addressed, they can contact the Patient Care Quality Office at 1-888-875-3256 or pcqo@phsa.ca.
 

Program partners: BC Corrections

Correctional Health Services works with BC Corrections as partners in client care. While the Correctional Health Services team provides care, correctional officers keep both staff and clients safe. To learn more about B.C.’s correctional centres, visit the BC Corrections website.

Contact

Correctional Health Services - Administration
1795 Willingdon Avenue
Burnaby, BC V5C 6E3
Phone: 604-829-8657