Has anyone ever worked in a prison?

[pharmofhope]

As a pharmacist. This strangely appeals to me.

But does anyone know what it is like?
Is this the preferred location of work as a pharmacist?

[johnep]

Believe there is a group for prison pharmacists, try google.
johnep

[Nik]

There's also a piece from Tomorrow's Pharmacist:

http://www.pharmj.com/pdf/tp/2006/tp_2006_p37prison.pdf

[DavidS]

I did a day's locum in a maximum security prison a couple of years ago. I enjoyed the day, but it was a difficult place to get to, and I haven't been back.

The staff there feel a lot safer than when they worked in community pharmacy. If you get aggro in the community, you have to phone the police and wait 40 mins for a response. If they get any aggro at all they press a button and several large and hairy beings, some of them four legged, wade in within seconds, and the problem is solved. It's an interesting place, with its own rules. For instance, it took me 40 mins to get from the front gate to the pharmacy, and 40 mins to get out again. I was searched twice during each journey, and fingerprinted twice also. There are two kinds of dog: huge German shepherds that you must not approach closer than 2 metres - their handlers think that they can probably stop them if they take a dislike to you within that distance, but certainly if you get closer than 1 metre then you will get bitten. Its the only fun they get. The other dogs are very friendly, but if they sit down in front of you and wag their tails then I'm afraid that it's the rubber glove treatment that you'll be getting.

Dispensing is a bit of an art form: there are certain things that aren't dispensed. There was something about white tablets that can be trimmed to look like subutex, you can't use them. Glass bottles are also not used, of course. There was no methadone in the prison, everyone got subutex or nothing, as I recall.

You can have a shower if you want, but in the showers are necklaces for your keys, and you have to wear them in the shower on these special devices. Cameras, mobile phones, laptops and data disks or usb sticks are completely forbidden.

There was more, but I don't remember it all.

[dizzyb23]

I'm an ex PO from a Cat A but haven't done Pharmacy in the nick. If you do go for it, and depending on the category of prison, you'll have an unforgettable experience.....

[laurabuk]

The Secure Environment Pharmacists Group has a link through the new PLB website: Pharmacy PLB | Secure Environment Pharmacists Group

(I believe they are not referred to as Prison pharmacists as they also cover juvenile centres and other environments that whilst "secure" are not prisons)

I heard a talk from one such pharmacist last year - it was very informative and interesting but I can't see myself doing it.