Patient Support

24 Hour Telephone Counselling Service

This counselling service is for inmates, adolescent detainees, their relatives and friends as well as Corrective Services officers and youth workers who may be concerned about the welfare of a person in our care. The line is staffed by trained mental health nurses who address the concerns raised by the caller and feed back information about the outcome. The counsellor will facilitate referral of relatives or friends of inmates and detainees to relevant community agencies with the individual's consent. Interventions are documented.

For assistance call: 1800 222 472

Feedback on Healthcare Services

Justice Health is constantly seeking feedback to improve the quality of care provided to our clients. Anyone who has a concern about the healthcare being provided to a person in our care is encouraged to raise those concerns with us.

We encourage our patients to raise problems with the nursing manager at the appropriate centre in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, other avenues for raising concerns include:

• Writing to the Chief Executive Officer of Justice Health
  PO Box 150
  MATRAVILLE NSW 2036
• Contacting the Inquiry Service of the Health Care Complaints Commission - Phone (02) 9219 7444 or Toll Free on 1800 043 159
• Telephoning or writing to the NSW Ombudsman - Phone (02) 9286 1000

We are similarly keen to hear positive feedback about the healthcare services we provide. This should be passed on to the Nursing Unit Manager or the Chief Executive Officer. You can also contact us via this site by clicking on the "Contact Us" button located in the Menu on the left.

Access to Medical Records

Former or current inmates and detainees may have access to their medical record. The Medico-Legal Coordinator will assist with inquiries and explain the processes by which the information can be accessed.

Medico-Legal Coordinator
Joint Records Centre
Private Mail Bag 144
SILVERWATER NSW 1811
Telephone: (02) 9289 5168
Facsimile: (02) 9289 5014

Consumer and Community Group

Justice Health is committed to engaging community and consumer participation in the provision of health services within NSW correctional centers, court cell complexes, police cells and juvenile justice centers. The Consumer and Community Group is a sub-committee of the Justice Health Quality Council and is responsible for:

• The provision of information to consumers about health services and issues.
• Informing consumers by promoting awareness and education on issues that affect health care provision.
• Consulting and empowering consumers through seeking broad based feedback, as well as providing an effective forum for consumer participation.
• Engaging consumers through collaboration to encourage and facilitate meaningful discussion to ensure positive consumer outcomes.
• Seeking quality improvement in the provision of health services.

The Consumer and Community Group may consider nominations for membership from organisations and individuals such as:

• Inmates.
• Mental Health Coordinating Council.
• NSW Users and Aids Association.
• CRC Justice Support Group.
• Justice Action.
• NSW Council of Social Service.
• Children of Prisoners Support Group.
• Official Visitors.
• Hepatitis C Council of NSW.
• Aboriginal Health Medical Research Council.