Prison told to improve care for the terminally ill
Ian S / GeographHull Prison has been told to improve care for terminally ill inmates, following the death of a prisoner with lung cancer.
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman raised concerns over the use of restraints during medical treatment and the equipment available inside the prison for palliative care.
John Leadbitter, 62, received end of life treatment that was "partially equivalent to that which he could have expected to receive in the community", the watchdog's report said.
HMP Hull has put an action plan in place to address the recommendations.
'Medical objections'
The watchdog recommended training staff in the national medical guidelines "Dying Well in Custody Charter".
Other improvements included training staff in the use of restraints when taking prisoners to hospital and that risk assessments by prison managers and the decision to use handcuffs should be based on "the actual risk the prisoner poses at the time".
The report said that while being taken to hospital he was placed in restraints "despite medical objections" adding, "there was no indication he posed a risk".
In addition, the inspector said that some of the paperwork around the decision to use restraints was incomplete.
The report also called for the Category B prison's healthcare department to be equipped with syringe pumps to deliver pain relief medication.
Mr Leadbitter died in prison on 31 January 2024 of natural causes, Hull Coroners' Court ruled.
He was on remand facing charges of starting a fire at a doctor's surgery in the North Yorkshire village of Ampleforth in August 2023.
HMP Hull had trained staff to deliver end of life care as part of an action plan put in place to address the recommendations.
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