To ensure a smooth and safe transition from prison to free society, it is important that prisoners are well-prepared for release. Yet, it is known that prisoners often face re-entry challenges... Show moreTo ensure a smooth and safe transition from prison to free society, it is important that prisoners are well-prepared for release. Yet, it is known that prisoners often face re-entry challenges regarding employment, housing, financial situation, healthcare, and valid identity documentation. Both prison-based (e.g., case managers) and community-based professionals (e.g., parole officers and municipal officers) are expected to help overcome these issues. Remarkably, empirical research on reintegration support from prison-based and community-based professionals is scarce. Therefore, the current dissertation aims to improve our understanding of in-prison professional support, by examining the prevalence of support, the factors that determine whether there is support, and the role of support in preparing prisoners for release.The current dissertation reveals that professional support can make an important contribution to preparing prisoners for release. It underscores the relevance of providing support early-on, especially to prisoners who already had problems prior to imprisonment. Although community-based professionals play vital roles in providing instrumental support, their in-prison involvement appears limited. Both prison-based professionals, who are in close contact to prisoners, and community-based professionals, who can provide specialised care and support, are encouraged to cooperate in a timely and coherent manner in preparing prisoners for release. Show less
BackgroundNon-communicable diseases are currently the leading cause of death in the Netherlands. Meeting the increasingly complex care needs of patients with these diseases is demanding for society... Show moreBackgroundNon-communicable diseases are currently the leading cause of death in the Netherlands. Meeting the increasingly complex care needs of patients with these diseases is demanding for society and our healthcare services.Specialist palliative care diminishes inappropriate end-of-life care and improves quality of life for patients with advanced cancer and other life-limiting diseases.Aims & MethodsUsing 2 national cross-sectional surveys and 2 population-based observational studies, we assessed the value, availability and accessibility of palliative care in the Dutch healthcare system. Using a modified Delphi technique, we developed a national quality framework for palliative care with key elements for integration with regular care.ResultsTimely provision of generalist and specialist palliative care is associated with significantly less potentially inappropriate end-of-life care for patients with advanced cancer.The majority of patients with cancer received no palliative care or only in their last weeks or days of life. Specialist palliative care teams were found to be available in almost all hospitals, but referrals to these teams were consistently low. Our findings implicate a limited availability and accessibility of palliative care.Eight key elements of the Netherlands Quality Framework for Palliative Care were prioritised to improve availability and accessibility to quality palliative care. Show less
