Provision of Optometry Services for HMP Berwyn

HMP Berwyn is a purpose-built prison which opened in February 2017 in Wrexham, North Wales. The prison is a category C training prison for sentenced adult and young adult men. There is also a resettlement function for men from North Wales. The prison has a remand function for approximately 200 un-sentenced adult and young adult men within the total capacity of 2,106. The prison receives its remand population from courts within North Wales.

In terms of the provision of health and wellbeing services it is important to recognise that while the population of the prison is 2,106 there are a significant number of men who will flow through the prison, be they remand or transfers. Responsibility for the provision of health services is fully devolved to the Welsh Government. Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) is responsible for meeting the health and wellbeing needs of the population in North Wales and this includes men and young adult men held in HMP Berwyn.

A ‘Prison Health, Wellbeing & Social Care Partnership Board’ operates for HMP Berwyn. It sets strategic direction, promotes the continuous development of health and social care provision, and provides assurance on the range and quality of health services delivered to meet the needs of the population. Terms of reference have been agreed by partners, setting out the purpose and aims of the strategic board.

BCUHB are responsible for providing the services of an integrated health and wellbeing team including nurses, administrators, medical specialists and professions allied to medicine. BCUHB is seeking to appoint a provider to deliver Optometry services to the population of HMP Berwyn.

The successful provider of Optometry Services will be expected to work with the Integrated Health and Wellbeing team to provide a seamless service. Overall management for the Health and Wellbeing service will be the responsibility of the Head of Healthcare at HMP Berwyn who is employed by BCUHB and the Optometry service will be responsible to this individual. The regime of the prison, and partnerships including social care provision, will be utilised to provide complimentary non-medical support to aid the men’s physical and mental wellbeing, for example, gym, education and work.

Please see Information for Bidders document on Bravo for further information.