A TRAINEE doctor has opted to work in a North-East high security prison in a scheme that is believed to be the first of its kind in the UK.

Flanked by prison officers, Dr Brian West, will hold regular surgeries within the walls of Durham's Frankland Prison.

The GP registrar, who would normally complete his training in a hospital, is the first in Britain to choose to work inside a prison.

News of the appointment followed yesterday's exclusive story in The Northern Echo, that Durham University could soon become the base for the UK's first professor of prison health.

Frankland Prison is one of England's most secure prisons, holding such high-profile inmates as the mass murderer, former Manchester GP Harold Shipman, and a number of convicted IRA terrorists.

Dr West will be based at the Cheveley Park Medical Centre in Belmont, Durham City.

Dr Jamie Harrison, a partner in the practice, organised the training attachment as part of his involvement in medical training at Newcastle University.

In the past two years, increasing numbers of medical students have been shown around the jail as part of their studies.

While few doctors currently opt to work inside prisons, it is expected that situation will change.

The quality of care inside prisons has come in for criticism in recent years, and talks are being held between the prison service and the Department of Health about improving the situation.

Many prisoners have poor physical and mental health, and a record of substance abuse.

"Prisoners have all sorts of medial needs, which, in the past, have not been met," said Dr Harrison.

In an effort to address the needs of prisoners, the innovative training scheme was developed with the cooperation of Newcastle Medical School and Frankland Prison.

From next month, the trainee GP will be holding regular surgeries in the prison.

"Our new GP registrar will spend half his working week in the prison, that is five out of ten surgeries," said Dr Harrison.

The Belmont practice already provides GPs for daily surgeries at the prison.

"We try to avoid knowing what crime they are in for. We try to treat them like any other patient. On the whole, we get a pretty positive response," he said.

Dr Andy Clark, senior medical officer at Frankland, described the scheme as unique