Source · Prevention of Future Deaths

Derrick Rose-Fowler

Ref: 2016-0153 Date: 21 Apr 2016 Coroner: John Ellery Area: Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Responses identified: 0 / 2 View PDF

A prison officer lacked first aid training, potentially delaying CPR, and the bullying policy was ineffective for prisoners unwilling to name names. Critical concerns about the deceased's mental health and self-harm history were not escalated to a MASH meeting.

Date 21 Apr 2016
56-day deadline 16 Jun 2016 est.
Responses identified 0 of 2
State Custody related deaths

Coroner's concerns

AI summary
A prison officer lacked first aid training, potentially delaying CPR, and the bullying policy was ineffective for prisoners unwilling to name names. Critical concerns about the deceased's mental health and self-harm history were not escalated to a MASH meeting.
View full coroner's concerns
_ First Aid Training (1) Although on the facts of this case it made no difference to the outcome, the first prison officer on the scene was not first aid trained: The evidence at the inquest was that there was no national requirement for all prison officers to be first aid trained provided a certain proportion were_ (2) In hanging cases time is of the essence for CPR and if there is any significant delay by reason of the first attending prison officer not being first trained there is the risk of future deaths occurring (3) By a then Rule 43 report dated the 24th February 2012 wrote to the Governor at HMP Stoke Heath where stated inter alia "it is a matter of concern that in December 2010 only one of four officers were aid trained and in February 2012 one was still untrained" _ 15th aid first

Bullying (1) There was evidence that bullying was 'rife' . Whilst the majority of the evidence at the inquest indicated that the deceased was not himself being bullied there was some evidence that he was_ The prison has a Tackling Bullying Behaviour (TBB) policy but there is concern as to how effective it was implemented on the complaints raised by the deceased himself that he was, in terms, being bullied.

(2) The TBB did not explicitly allow for record that a prisoner, such as the deceased, who was not prepared to name names could nevertheless still be offered support: It is a concern that the reasons given by the various witnesses were not demonstrated to have been considered, (3) At paragraph 19 of the final PPO report it states 'there has been one other inflicted death at Stoke Heath; in the last 4 years in March 2013. In the investigation into that death we found that the prison did not investigate allegations of bullying' For completeness the central issue at that inquest was in relation to the deceased'$ mental health: MASH meeting (4) Regardless of whether the TBB policy was appropriately implemented there was evidence that concerns relating to the deceased should have been raised ata MASH meeting: Factors which should have triggered such a referral were: History of self-harm in 2014. Recorded diagnoses of anxiety and depression: An ACCT opened at HMP Featherstone in October 2014. The intelligence report raised by the mental health nurse in March 2015, The letter handed by the deceased to a prison officer in April 2015. The refusal of the deceased to take prescribed medication: The refusal of the deceased to attend scheduled GP appointments. It could not be said that any such referral would have changed the outcome but there was evidence that something would have been done:

Report sections

Investigation and inquest
On 5th June 2015 commenced an investigation into the death of Derrick Edward ROSE-FOWLER: The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest with a jury on the April 2016. The conclusion of the jury was that 'The death was an intended act but with unintended consequences'
Circumstances of the death
At 10.03am on Sth June 2015 deceased was found hanging by his neck from his cell window. Attempts were made to resuscitate, and he was transferred to Princess Royal Hospital, Telford where he was pronounced dead;
Action should be taken
In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and believe you and/or your organisation have the power to take such action:

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Report details

Reference
2016-0153
Date of report
21 April 2016
Coroner
John Ellery
Coroner area
Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin

Responses identified

Responses identified 0 of 2
2 responses not yet linked

Organisations named in PFD reports are normally expected to respond within 56 days. Deadline: 16 Jun 2016 (estimated).

Sent to

HMP Stoke Heath
Ministry of Justice

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