Public Health England would like to develop, with your help, a global network to exchange experience, expert advice and promote innovation in addressing health and healthcare inequalities facing people in prison. This network is developed in partnership with international agencies, including the WHO Europe: Health In Prisons Programme.
There is marked disparity in research capacity and outputs between countries across the world and the network aims to address this, aiming to ensure that the main beneficiaries of the network will be resource poor countries.
The worldwide prison health research & engagement network (WEPHREN) will provide:
- A forum for all stakeholders interested in prison health to exchange ideas and to work together;
- A forum for researchers to develop collaborative multi-centre research proposals;
- A means of disseminating important research findings;
- A platform for developing the skills of health professionals and researchers;
- A vehicle to drive development of effective collaborative networks within and between countries
- An opportunity for supported professional development of researchers, healthcare professionals and other collaborators;
- An effective means of addressing inequities in research and professional development
- Global leadership in prison research.
WEPHREN stakeholders and members
WEPHREN is funded by Public Health England, which hosts the UK Collaborating Centre for Health in Prisons Programme led by the WHO Europe Regional Office. It is the only Health in Prisons Programme run by the WHO and more information can be found at http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/health-determinants/prisons-and-health.
The key leads for WEPHREN in Public Health England are:
Dr Eamonn O'Moore
Dr Emma Plugge
Kieran Lynch
The work of WEPHREN is supported by a Steering Committee made up from members of the WHO Health in Prisons Programme Steering Group and elected members from outside of the WHO Europe Region. These experts in the field meet once a quarter to review the delivery plan for WEPHREN and provide advice and support to the WHO UK Collaborating Centre in delivering the objectives.
Members of the Steering Committee are listed below.
Name |
Organisation/affiliation |
|
|
Linda Montanari |
EMCDDA |
Carole Dromer |
|
Roberto Monarca/Fadi Meroueh |
|
Juma Khudonazarov |
Royal College of General Practitioners/Central Asian projects |
Senia Rosales-Klintz and Erika Duffell |
|
José Manuel Arroyo Cobo |
Ministry of Justice, Spain |
Antti-Jussi Ämmälä |
|
Lesley Graham |
Chair of UK and Ireland Research Group |
Carina Ferreira-Borges |
|
Carlos Magno Neves |
University of Brazil |
Stuart Kinner |
Murdoch Children's Research Institute & University of Melbourne |
Louise Southalan |
Mental Health Commission, Western Australia |
Frederick Altice |
Yale University |
|
In order to deliver this network, a series of priority outcomes or deliverables have been agreed on for 2019-20.
These priorities are:
1) Development and dissemination of high quality evidence for prison health and healthcare
2) Bringing together key stakeholders across professions, across disciplines and across nations
3) Facilitate the development of practitioner- and policy relevant research
4) Capacity building initiatives for health and health service delivery
If you have any comments on this then please contact: WEPHREN@phe.gov.uk