Bookmarkers beware: Bookmarks to pages other than the home page may not work after we change our server in April Editor's Choice | This Week in BMJ | Press releases BMJ No 7133 Volume 316 News Saturday 7 March 1998 Police surgeon service needs modernising Britain's police surgeon service is struggling to meet demands and is in need of urgent modernisation, says a report from the Audit Commission. The Doctor's Bill states that forensic medical services are under considerable strain and costs have risen 60% in the past five years, from £12m ($19m) in 1992 to £20m in 1997. The work of police surgeons has changed considerably - 30 years ago the focus was on blood tests of suspected drunk drivers, whereas nowadays the greatest demand is for assessing whether prisoners are well enough to be detained or interviewed. Police surgeons increasingly deal with mentally ill people DAVID HOFFMAN Andrew Foster, controller of the Audit Commission, said: "Police custody suites are increasingly having to meet the needs of vulnerable groups and victims of serious crime, and cope with increased drug and alcohol abusers, with an ill equipped and outdated system of managing medical care." There is a problem recruiting enough police surgeons to cope with the rising demand, particularly in rural areas. For example, in one force 12 police surgeons were contacted before one could be found who was immediately available to examine a victim in a rape case. Non-forensic work accounts for 85% of police surgeons' call outs, and the report says that perhaps some routine tasks could be done by other health professionals. The Doctor's Bill: the Provision of Forensic Medical Services to the Police, price £20, is available from the Audit Commission on 0800 502030. Jacqui Wise BMJ Home | Current issue | Past issues | Classified ads | Career Focus | Feedback Collections | About this site | About the BMJ | BMA | Medline