The Analysis and Use of Evidence Award Shortlist

Jan Palmer, Clinical Substance Misuse Adviser to Prisons, Department of Health and Ministry of Justice

Jan Palmer has revolutionised prison drug treatment in this country, resulting in the saving of numerous lives. Her work at Holloway prison was simply groundbreaking. Jan developed superb evidence-based protocols and guidelines for the management of women substance misusers at the prison. These formed the basis of the prison service’s national strategy for the management of all women substance misusers: the first national prison treatment protocols for any country across the European Union.

As a consequence of Jan’s tireless work there has been a dramatic reduction in self-inflicted deaths amongst women with drug problems (from 22 deaths in the three years that preceded her appointment, down to just three in the three years that followed her coming into post). Self-harm has also shown a spectacular reduction. Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons noted this considerable improvement in women prisoners’ drug treatment services.

The model of care developed by Jan in women’s prisons became an integral part of the treatment approach for all male prisoners. There was substantial resistance to the programme of work Jan has championed, but her conscientousness and fidelity to the lessons of science has meant that delivery has been achieved in 127 of 131 sites, with all the remaining four set to come online this summer.

Whatever the impediment to quality care for vulnerable women, Jan never gives up. Her priority is always the patient, and never self-aggrandisement.