Q3 2020

There has been an increase in calls and enquiries responded to from people in prison this quarter from 288 in the last quarter to 330 in this third quarter. These numbers have been influenced by the ease on Covid-19 related restrictions such as lock downs, a gradual return to and a subsequent increase in regular health related services such as HCV testing and treatment prescriptions.

Q2 2020

We received 288 calls from people in prison this quarter. These numbers were drastically affected by Covid-19 related lock downs across NSW prisons. In addition, as of the 24th March Justice Health's workforce concentration on containing and controlling pandemic related infections suspended our prison advocacy for hep C treatment support with Justice Health, until further notice. The suspension of this service for prisoners through our Infoline has greatly affected the number of callers seeking HBV vaccination, treatment and testing support through the HNSW infoline. For the financial year 2019-20 the total number of enquiries to the Infoline from people in prison is 1607. An average of 134 calls per month or 402 per quarter

Q1 2020

There were 533 calls from people in custody this quarter, which represents 87% of call received to the Infoline.  The number of calls from people in custody was highest in March with 221 calls and lowest in January with 136 calls.  

Q4 2019

There were 385 calls from people in custody this quarter, which represents 89% of all calls received to the Infoline.  The number of calls from people in custody was highest in October with 160 calls, and stable across November and December with 112 and 113 calls respectively.  Calls from people in custody remain stable over the past 12 months, which highlights the importance of this service for people in custody.   

Q3 2019

There were 401 calls from people in custody this quarter, which is significantly above the target of 30% or 159 calls.  The number of calls from people in custody has increased steadily from March 2019.  The calls from people in custody represent >80% of all calls to the Hepatitis NSW Infoline.  HiPE along with Hepatitis NSW education sessions delivered in correctional centres is thought to be associated with the increase.  As such, calls to the Infoline have been received from all correctional centres where Hepatitis NSW co-delivered education to correctional staff and people in prison with Justice Health and NUAA.  

Q2 2019

There were 406 callers from prison settings this quarter. This is substantially greater than the target of 53 calls each month.  The hepatitis NSW Infoline continues to be an important service for people in custody. All callers from custody reporting that they were completely satisified with the information and service provided. 

Q1 2019

There were 277 callers from prison settings this quarter, which is similar to the previous quarter.  Overall 64% of callers to the Infoline over this quarter were calling from custodial settings.  This is consistent with previous quarters.  Although call volume remained lower than usual in January and February, the call volume increased in March to 110 callers, which is closer to the number of calls received during 2018.   

Q4 2018

There were 266 callers from prison settings this quarter.  This approximates 65% of all calls were received from people in correctional centres.  As reported previously, call volume has declined over this period predominantly due to the new Justice Corrective Services telco provider.  With that said, the target of 53 calls each month has been exceeded for all months.  

Q3 2018

There were 400 callers from prison settings this quarter.   September saw the highest number of calls from people in prison settings this year.  

Q2 2018

There were 345 callers from prison settings this quarter.  A total of 1479 calls were received from prison settings between July 2017 to June 2018.  Overall approximately 62% above our target.  For the period July 2017 to June 2018 calls from people in correctional centres represented 55.4% of the total number of Infoline calls - 52.7% June to December, and 59% January to June.  While the number of calls received from community have decreased, the number of calls from correctional centres remains fairly constant.  Therefore the percentage of calls from people in prison settings has increased - 67% of total calls in April, 66% in May, and 74% in June.  It is estimated that approximately 36% of callers from prison settings are women.    

Q1 2018

There were 337 callers from prison settings this quarter, 1,148 year to date, consistently achieving double our target.   As per Quarter 4, 2017, the free call line for people in custody, and the Hepatitis Information Packs mailed out to people in custody continue to see increases in people asking about hepatitis C.  In March, 52% of callers asked about hepatitis C treatment, the fifth highest response rate, year to date, and the highest response rate in 2018. 

Q4 2017

There are ongoing high numbers of callers from prison settings - 346 this quarter, and 811 in the year to date, double our target. The free call line for people in custody, and the Hepatitis Information Packs mailed out to people in custody are building a strong support for hep C testing and treatment, and increasing access to treatment. 

Q3 2017

There were 465 callers from prison settings this quarter.  62% of these callers were Aboriginal people, and 16% spoke a language other than English at home. 20% of callers identified that they were living with hep C, while 3% had been treated and cured.164 of these callers were sent Hepatitis Information Packs, including information on how to access testing and treatment for hep C. From our prison feedback form we know that 29 people then asked the nurse for blood tests and 9 started or were on hep C treatment. 

Q2 2017

The successes and cure offered of the DAAs availability in custodial settings, and peer referrals created by placing extra copies of information and Infoline cards into the Hepatitis Information Packs mailed to people in custody, has built a continuing high demand for services.

Q1 2017

Call volume remains high, as people in prison settings ask for information about treatment pathways within the prisons health system. Justice Health have seen a matching spike in people being treated for hep C. 164 Hepatitis Information Packs were mailed out to people in custody. Feedback forms from people in custody show that the information provided is useful, and that, as a result, they asked to be treated.

Q4 2016

The number of calls from people in prison remained above target levels for this quarter, as people sought information on how to access to the new DAA treatments. The Hepatitis Information Packs mailed out as a follow up include Infographics on the new DAAs and the treatment flowchart, with extra copies for people in prison to give to others. This has created self-referrals to our information service, and increased access to treatment, including for people being released from prison who now know more about the treatment pathways.

Q1 2016:

As expected there was an increase in calls during this quarter from people in prison due to the announcement of the new treatments being listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme on the 1st of March 2016. Our Infoline staff continue to advocate with Justice Health on behalf of callers from prisons across the state, to support prisoners access testing and treatment for viral hepatitis. Hepatitis NSW are continuing to meet with Justice Health and Corrective Services NSW to enhance their ongoing partnership and provide accurate up to date information to prison callers regarding the new treatments.

Q4 2015:

We experienced a high volume of calls early in this quarter with an increase in people in prison seeking information about the new treatments and requesting information packs. We continue to provide support and advocate on behalf of people in prison and are in regular contact with Justice Health to increase access to testing and treatment for viral Hepatitis. We anticipate an increase in calls from prisoners over the coming weeks as the news spreads about the new treatments being listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in March 2016.

Q3 2015:

We have met and exceeded targets with our number of prison calls for the last three months. We have established and continue to strengthen partnerships with Corrections Services through our Education sessions which support the promotion of the service. Our Infoline staff have ongoing contact with Justice Health to support and advocate on behalf of callers from prisons across the state, this advocacy supports prisoners access to testing and treatment for viral hepatitis.

Q1 2015:

Targets have not been met this quarter: An Increase in Hepatitis NSW's partnership projects within Corrections is an avenue to further promote the Infoline within prisons.

Q4 2014:

Prisoners are at high risk of acquiring blood borne diseases as such services like NSPs are not available in prisons.Our services are well known in prisons and our phone number is included on prison hotline numbers.

October was the month we had the highest number of prison calls standing at 97.This exceeded our baseline target of 72. We later saw a drop to 52 in the month of November . In December there was an increase from 52 to 85. The trend for December was very good as this month had only three weeks due to holidays.

Q3 2014:

The pattern has not been different from the general Infoline trend as indicated earlier.An increase from 61 prison calls in July to 66 and a decrease to 50 in September. This could be due to information on new interferon free treatments. Lithgow and Goulburn prisons are earmarked for SToP-C project - a surveillance research project which evaluates the impact of rapid scale-up of Direct Acting Antiviral(DAA) treatment on incidence and prevalence of HCV infection in the prison setting. StoP-C will be implemented beginning of next year so we might have a decrease of calls from the two prisons. This will help to develop a translational framework for subsequent establishment of treatment-as-prevention programs in the prison sector . Most prisoners are waiting .

Justice Health, prisoners.