{
  "abstract": "Background The UK prison population is increasing, and incarcerated individuals represent a small but important share of the patients served by hospitals and critical care units. Despite this, there is scarce literature on this aspect of critical care and public health. The authors perceived a shift in admission patterns amongst prisoners in the years before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to provide context from two centres that regularly admit individuals from local prisons.Methods A WardWatcher™ database search was performed for patients coded as resident in Scottish Prison Service facilities, admitted to Glasgow Royal Infirmary and University Hospital Wishaw critical care units from January 2015 to June 2025. Parameters evaluated included: Admission incidence, demographics, length of stay, admission diagnosis, mortality estimate (APACHE II) score, duration of Level 3 care, and patient outcome. Caldicott Guardian approval was obtained at both sites.Results 40 prisoners were admitted in the 5 years preceding the COVID-19 lockdown, compared with 90 in the following 5 years – an increase from <1% to 4.5% of all critical care admissions. Length of stay increased (2 to 4 days). Regression analysis demonstrated a modest increase in days requiring ventilation and level 3 care. Trauma diagnoses increased (0% to 4.4%) as did surgical (2.5% to 6.7%). Drug related admissions coded ‘Maybe’ increased (5% to 10%), those coded ‘Yes’ were unchanged.Conclusion This study provides new insight within a clear knowledge gap, relating to a patient group with public health relevance. We observed an increasing number of prisoner admissions, for longer durations and with higher levels of care and intervention. Admission reasons are dynamic and ongoing research could evaluate the impacts of drug-related harm. Developing a greater understanding of prisoner illness, healthcare and interaction wtih acute hospital services is crucial to directing health policy for this patient group.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Anaesthetics & Critical Care, University Hospital Wishaw, Wishaw, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Jordan Wardrope"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Anaesthetics & Intensive Care, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Christopher McGovern"
    }
  ],
  "title": "P16-8 Critical care admissions of incarcerated patients: a two-centre, retrospective cohort analysis",
  "uid": "920309cc-e435-595d-aa25-03ed0a98cb2e"
}