Transforming frailty care in prison healthcare: Christine’s Journey
Christine shares her transformative journey as a developmental Advanced Nurse Practitioner in enhancing care for frail patients across West Midlands prisons.
As the Developmental Advanced Clinical Practitioner for the Clinical Hub within West Midlands prisons, Christine found her true calling. After 14 years as a prison nurse and serving as a Clinical Service Manager, Christine has stepped into a role with greater responsibility, overseeing the service across 10 sites in the region and helping frail prisoners prevent and manage long-term conditions. The service initially launched at three Wolverhampton sites and will soon expand to HMP Stafford.
Developing the Clinical Hub Services
Christine began her role in March 2024, focusing on enhancing the Clinical Hub services for the IAGE pathway (Frailty Strategy) and the prevention and management of long-term conditions pathway.
She said: “The main objectives for the frailty strategy are
- managing frailty as a long-term condition in its own right;
- providing proactive care through timely identification; and
- offering more integrated, person-centred, and coordinated care.
We want to reduce dependence on unscheduled care for frail individuals by providing high-quality assessments and care planning early on.
This role allows me to focus on the whole patient, rather than just addressing the latest condition or injury. It’s not just about treating their current ailment and sending them away. Instead, it’s about seeing what we can do to help them stay fit, healthy, and active, and to prevent further issues. We aim to provide the best quality of life while they are in our care. This approach is about doing what is right for our older and frail patients.”
The introduction of the Clinical Hub services represents a strategic shift by Practice Plus Group to an even more proactive model of care. This approach maximizes opportunities for self-care, reduces the need for unplanned services, and ensures that resources are utilised more effectively.
What Christine’s day looks like
During her site visits, Christine starts her day by assessing patients’ needs, identifying frailty levels, and developing personalised care plans. She evaluates physical, cognitive, and social aspects, including mobility, nutrition, and mental health. Her work also includes addressing emotional well-being and social isolation, providing education, and supporting independence.
She also collaborates with a wider multidisciplinary team (MDT), making referrals to services such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, GPs, social prescribers, memory services, safer custody teams, and social care services, to ensure comprehensive care.
“Caring for frail older people is highly complex and requires skilled, trained staff who uphold the values and standards of compassionate care. Each day brings new challenges and opportunities, but my goal remains to enhance patients’ quality of life and support them in aging well. I am deeply proud and privileged to receive such positive feedback from the patients I have seen.”
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