'If they're your doctor, they should care about you': Women on release from prison and general practitioners.

BACKGROUND

Nearly half of the people leaving prison see a general practitioner (GP) within a month of release, which provides an opportunity to promote health for this vulnerable group.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this article is to examine the expectations and experiences of GP care of women leaving prison.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews pre-release and post-release from prison were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Sixty-nine interviews were conducted with 40 women while they were still in prison and 29 of these women after they were released. Women perceived GPs as lacking interest in their social support needs and believed GPs needed more skills in substance misuse management. Given the fear of stigma, women may not disclose recent incarceration, affecting the continuity of healthcare initiated in prison.

DISCUSSION: GPs' acknowledgement of, and assistance with, the broad issues that have an impact on the health and wellbeing of women after release is valued. Whole-person care also requires GP accessibility, management of substance misuse, continuity of care and understanding of the stigma associated with incarceration.