Police Custody Healthcare for Nurses and Paramedics

An essential resource for nurses and paramedics navigating the intricate world of police custody, providing a solid guide for both the novices and the veterans in the field.

Across the UK there are on average over 750,000 episodes of police detentions annually, the equivalent of over 2,000 a day. Each one is entitled to healthcare comparable to the wider community. It is estimated on average 54% of these detained individuals are referred to a healthcare professional because of a complex mix of physical health, mental health, medication, substance misuse or social issues. Healthcare professionals working in custody must navigate this complex mix while working within a short-term detention setting.

Police Custody Healthcare for Nurses and Paramedics offers a thorough, accessible introduction to this subject and its key aspects. Nurses and paramedics working in police custody healthcare settings will find a volume that addresses their specific needs, with guidelines for understanding initial patient contact, potential comorbidity, mental illness, forensic sampling, documenting injuries, writing statements, and much more. Aligned to the UK Association of Forensic Nurses and Paramedics' Advanced Standards in Education and Training (ASET), this is a must-have resource for professionals in this growing area of practice.

Readers will also find:

• The first text written specifically for nurses and paramedics by nurses and paramedics with extensive experience in police custody
• Detailed discussion of topics including fitness assessment, medicines management, use of force restraints, and much more
• Pedagogical tools including self-assessment questions, case studies, and learning outcomes

Police Custody Healthcare for Nurses and Paramedics is ideal for trainee or registered nurses and paramedics working in police custody healthcare settings or other detention settings.

Matthew Peel, RN QN MSc BSc ASET V300, is an Advanced Clinical Practitioner in police custody across Yorkshire and Humber, previously seconded to NHS England as the Chief Nursing Officer's Clinical Nurse Fellow leading a national project concerning police custody and sexual assault healthcare. He has over a decade of clinical experience in custody, and has published extensively on related issues of nursing and forensic healthcare.

Jennie Smith, RGN MSc PGCert ASET V300, is President of the UK Association of Forensic Nurses and Paramedics and Clinical Lead for the Merseyside Integrated Police Custody Healthcare and Wider Liaison and Diversion Service. She has over 15 years of clinical experience in custody, and has published and presented extensively on nursing and forensic medicine issues.

Margaret Bannerman, SFHEA MSc BSc (Hons) RN Dip HE Cert Med Ed PGCert RM, is an experienced nurse educator with particular experience in curriculum design, developing bespoke education programmes and competency frameworks. She is also experienced in national standard setting, along with accompanying guidelines and policy documents in the areas of forensic healthcare and sexual health.

Vanessa Webb MBBS, RGN, MSc, BSc, DLM, DFMS, FMERSA, MFMLM is dual qualified with GMC and NMC registration. As part of her career journey, she was an Advanced Nurse Practitioner, worked in custody and sexual offences for 20 years and as a Senior Leader, Co-Founder and Trustee, has delivered services across the criminal justice system and continues to be passionate about ensuring that we have a caring and competent workforce that is striving to address inequalities for those we serve.