Mark John Andrew Smith

However, on the basis that more information allows for a greater ability to make a good decision, the SPS and THB/NHS should consider whether to make it a mandatory requirement for nursing staff to check medical records (if they are available) for a prisoner at the reception assessment.

(2) Mr Gilmartin has suggested that more information should be physically transferred (hard copy) from the reception process to the officers in the FNICS. This includes information about any mental health history, any known current mental health problems, if the prisoner has been prescribed medication and whether he has taken the required dosages, previous markers for suicide/self-harm and what charges he faces. I agree with this. I do not think that if the FNICS staff had this information that they could realistically have prevented Mark Smith’s death. However, again on the basis that more information allows for a greater ability to make a good decision, I hope that the SPS and THB/NHS will consider putting this arrangement in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

However, I strongly encourage SPS/NHS to redouble their efforts to recruit nurses who are qualified in the treatment of mental health, and to provide specific training in mental health to nurses who are in the SPS and who are not so qualified.