Man's death in police custody prompts training call from coroner

A coroner has called for better training for custody healthcare workers after a man had a seizure related to alcohol withdrawal and died.

Mark Pryor, 46, died in hospital after being found unresponsive in his cell at a police station in Derby in 2020.

Coroner Peter Nieto has written a prevention of future deaths report, asking the government and a training provider to take action.

CRG Medical Services said its thoughts were with Mr Pryor's family.

Mr Pryor, from Derby, was being held at St Mary's Wharf police station in the city prior to his death on 5 September 2020.

His inquest concluded deficiencies in the healthcare professionals' (HCP) assessment and treatment of his alcohol withdrawal "probably made a more than minimal contribution to his death".

Mr Pryor was seen in custody four times by two different HCPs due to his opiate misuse, methadone usage and alcohol dependency.

He began a course of medication to reduce the symptoms and guard against a withdrawal-related seizure, the report said.

However, there were inadequacies in the training and induction provided to the lesser-experienced HCP who attended to Mr Pryor, and it was also clear that they did not have suitable experience and skills, the report said.

The inquest jury found the HCPs' assessments were too short to effectively assess Mr Pryor, the time between them was too long, and changes in vital signs were not acted on.

An increase in medication should have been considered when Mr Pryor's blood pressure and pulse were found to be elevated, the report added.

Following Mr Pryor's inquest, Mr Nieto, senior coroner for Derby and Derbyshire, said in the report he was concerned HCPs might not be receiving sufficient training to practice effectively or safely in police custody suites.

He said he understood the training of HCPs in police custody might be similar nationally.

A spokesperson for CRG Medical Services said: "We will of course respond to the coroner in due course to confirm the steps we have taken to ensure sufficient and adequate training is in place for all of our staff working in police custody."

The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) has been approached for comment.

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