Planning for your health in prison
What to bring
Bringing the following items when you enter prison can help us give you the right care:
- medicines you’re taking—we'll look after these for you. Having them can help us understand your health needs
- prescriptions for your medicine
- a letter from your GP explaining your health care needs
- phone numbers of people that can support you, such as your family and next of kin
- health documents and forms, such as an advance health directive, enduring power of attorney form, statement of choices and any translations.
You'll still get the health care you need if you don't have these items.
Medicines and prescriptions
You can take prescribed medicines in prison. We're able to prescribe all medicines on Queensland's list of approved medicines.
The prisoner health team will give you your dose when you need it or help you to self-manage certain medicines.
You can buy paracetamol and ibuprofen at the prison canteen or ask us to prescribe pain medicine.
Medicare
You can’t claim Medicare benefits while you’re in prison. Other family members listed on your Medicare card can still use it.
Health care plans and decisions
As part of managing your health in prison, it’s a good idea to decide:
- who will make decisions for you if you’re not able to
- what your wishes and views are for your health care and end of life care.
Advance care planning involves telling people about your choices and writing them down. If you don’t have a plan, ask a prison health worker to help you make one.
You can make your wishes legally binding by using an advance health directive or an enduring power of attorney.
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