Mountain Healthcare

Mountain Healthcare

Mountain Healthcare is a leading specialist in Health and Justice services in the United Kingdom. The organisation is the largest provider of Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) services in the UK and a key partner for NHS England and various police constabularies, focusing on trauma-informed care for vulnerable patients in forensic and custodial settings.

Who We Are

Mountain Healthcare operates as a national forensic healthcare leader, functioning in multiple locations across England and providing remote clinical governance to several other regions.

Headquartered in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, the organisation was established to bridge the gap between medical care and the criminal justice system. Their model is built on two core values: "Be Kind" and "Do the Right Thing." They are recognized for their expertise in managing high-risk environments, such as police custody and secure units, where patients often present with complex needs including acute trauma, mental health crises, or substance dependency.

They pride themselves on their trauma-informed approach, ensuring that even within the rigid structures of the justice system, patients receive holistic care that prioritizes their safety, human rights, and recovery.

What We Do

Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs)

Managing over 50 specialist clinics for children and adults who have experienced sexual violence. Services include immediate crisis support, forensic medical examinations, and long-term aftercare referrals.

Police Custody Healthcare

Providing 24/7 medical oversight for detainees in police custody suites. This includes fitness-to-detain assessments, treatment of injuries, and the management of chronic conditions or withdrawal symptoms.

Forensic Medical Services

Conducting expert evidential sample collection and documentation to support criminal investigations while maintaining clinical standards of care.

Secure Environment Services

Providing healthcare within prisons, young offender institutions, and other secure residential settings, focusing on reducing health inequalities for incarcerated populations.

Training & Consultancy

Delivering specialized training to police officers, social workers, and medical professionals on forensic awareness, detainee safety, and trauma-informed practice.

Pathway & Support Service (PASS)

Operating a 24/7/365 central support hub that provides telephone advice, manages referrals, and coordinates forensic medical examiners across their various contracts.

Approach & Values

Mountain Healthcare focuses on Trauma-Informed Care, Patient Safety, and Forensic Integrity.

They prioritise equitable access, ensuring that patients in the justice system—who are often among the most marginalized—receive the same quality of care as those in the general community. Their approach is designed to be clinically led, with a heavy emphasis on "Forensic Nurse Examiners" and "Forensic Practitioners" who are dually trained in medicine and law.

A strong emphasis is placed on "Public Health Integration," with the goal of identifying underlying health issues during custody or SARC visits to provide onward referrals that may help prevent re-offending or further victimization.

Industry Role

Mountain Healthcare plays a pivotal role in the UK Health and Justice landscape, acting as a primary interface between the NHS and the Home Office.

As a dominant regional and national contractor, the organisation contributes to the justice system's legitimacy by ensuring that forensic evidence is collected ethically and medical emergencies are handled professionally. They act as a strategic advisor for national policy groups, helping to shape the future of forensic healthcare standards and SARC provision in England.

They offer a resilient and specialized workforce, making them the go-to provider for large-scale police contracts (such as Thames Valley, Surrey, and Cumbria) that require 24-hour clinical coverage in high-pressure environments.