A full range of medical ser vices are provided to all prisoners by one or more part-time doctors in each prison. In addition, psychiatric services are provided when required.
The provision of specific specialist services for conditions such as ADD-ADHD continues to be reviewed in the context of similar services being available in the general community and the relative need for such services for prisoners.
A recent survey of the health status of prisoners, which was conducted by the Department of Health Promotion at NUI Galway, found that only 4% of the prison population had ever had a diagnosis of ADD or ADHD. These figures indicate that the prevalence of this disease is relatively low compared to other illnesses within this group of people.