Dr Lawless, an Amity Health Centre GP, yesterday released an evaluation report of the six-month Healthy Pathways programme, which offered prisoners released from Otago Corrections Facility two free GP visits, free prescriptions, and other support.
Co-written with project manager Catherine Daly-Reeve, the report said the best uptake was seen among Pakeha patients, and of the participating Dunedin GP practices, Servants Health Centre was the most successful in ensuring patient participation.
Servants, whose services are free to all patients, was accustomed to dealing with ''disadvantaged'' people, and had an inclusive and non-judgemental philosophy. The pair are to present the findings to the Southern Primary Health Organisation, with the hope of seeing the introduction of a permanent scheme.
Of the 62 eligible participants, 58% attended at least one free GP visit. Six months later, 32 of the patients were still enrolled with a GP, and 31 continued to attend the GP.
Twelve patients had been reincarcerated.
''It became clear there is a need for a more holistic programme encompassing areas outside health, such as literacy, employment, and housing.''
The programme used funds left over by the former Well Dunedin Primary Health Organisation.
It concluded at the end of last year, with the six-month follow-up in the middle of this year.
