Introduction: A history of the NSW prison medical service

Caring for the Incarcerated

A history of the NSW prison medical service

This exhibition charts the route taken by the New South Wales (NSW) prison medical service from its 18th century convict origins through to its more recent past. “Annexed” as a penal colony by the British, NSW quickly developed a system of state-provided health care in the form of convict hospitals. Out of this early medical service emerged the colony’s prison and civilian health systems. This legacy remains with us today. Not least it gives NSW one of the oldest continuallyoperating state-supported medical systems in the world. Yet, despite this long tradition of healthcare provision, the state of prisoner health today continues to be a challenge. Statistics charting prisoners’ morbidity rates indicate seemingly intractable levels of physical and mental illness. It is therefore important to understand this legacy, not only because it is a fascinating history but also for the insights it can provide into the vision behind past efforts to safeguard the health of prisoners.

Join us for a journey into this often hidden if ubiquitous history...