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Wrexham prison 'will affect NHS,' watchdog warns Health cash warning over Wrexham's super prison plan
(about 2 hours later)
A prison with more than 2,000 inmates will have a "knock-on" effect on local health and NHS services, which will need more funding, says a watchdog. A planned 'super prison' housing more than 2,000 inmates will have a "knock-on" effect on local health services which will need more funding, says a watchdog.
Wrexham's planned £212m "super prison" is due to open in 2017, making it the largest in the UK. The new £212m jail proposed for Wrexham is due to open in 2017, making it the largest in the UK.
The area's community health council said there was already a shortage of GPs in the area. But the community health council said there was already a shortage of GPs.
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) said it was currently assessing the potential impact of the prison. The Welsh government said there were plans to scrutinise the potential impact of the prison on the NHS.
In June, BCUHB said the new prison would have "significant investment implications" for the health service locally and it was fully involved in planning for the project. In June, the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said the new prison would have "significant investment implications" for the health service locally and it was fully involved in planning for the project.
But Geoff Ryal-Harvey, chief officer of Betsi Cadwaladr Community Health Council, told BBC Radio Cymru's current affairs programme Manylu the situation was concerning. Geoff Ryall-Harvey, chief officer of Betsi Cadwaladr Community Health Council, told BBC Radio Cymru's current affairs programme Manylu the situation was concerning.
"There are problems recruiting GPs in north Wales, and a prison population of over 2,000 people will need two GPs on its own. We don't know where we will get those GPs from - it's a real issue," he said."There are problems recruiting GPs in north Wales, and a prison population of over 2,000 people will need two GPs on its own. We don't know where we will get those GPs from - it's a real issue," he said.
"And there will be knock-on effects for hospitals, for emergency departments. It certainly is a worry and I know the health board shared those worries.""And there will be knock-on effects for hospitals, for emergency departments. It certainly is a worry and I know the health board shared those worries."
'Assess needs' Robert Jones, research associate at the Wales Governance Centre, agreed and said the impact on the local NHS "could be profound".
Robert Jones, research associate at the Wales Governance Centre, agrees and claims the impact on the local NHS "could be profound".
"Prisoners have a whole range of complex physical and mental health problems. If it's run privately, the secondary health care cost will have to be picked up by the local health board," he said."Prisoners have a whole range of complex physical and mental health problems. If it's run privately, the secondary health care cost will have to be picked up by the local health board," he said.
"So, without question, it's going to have a huge impact on the local area, and quite frankly at this moment, those questions haven't really been raised, and if you like, sufficiently addressed." However the Welsh government said: "Arrangements are in place for key partners, including the Welsh government, NHS, National Offenders Management Service, the Ministry of Justice and HM Treasury to closely scrutinise the potential impact and costs of the proposed new prison being built in Wrexham on the Welsh NHS."
The Welsh government and BCUHB said work was being done to assess the potential impact and cost implications the proposed prison might have on the NHS.
In August, diggers began preparatory works on the former Firestone factory site which will house the prison.
Wrexham council's planning committee meets next Monday to discuss outstanding issues like landscaping and parking.