Wormwood Scrubs

Response
I understand the Board’s concern about cancelled hospital appointments. It is recognised that prisoners often have complex health and care needs and generally experience poorer physical health than the general population. To improve health outcomes and tackle the root causes of offending, it is essential we take a whole system approach to health and social care provision for people in the criminal justice system. The Secretary of State for Justice is committed to working with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and health partners to articulate a coherent picture of how healthcare is delivered throughout the criminal justice pathway. Communication and the relationship between HMP/YOI Wormwood Scrubs and the healthcare management teams have improved considerably. Local Health Delivery Board meetings analyse performance measures. This includes the attendance rate at external appointments and a breakdown of the reasons appointments have been cancelled such as cancellation by the prison, the hospital rescheduling or the prisoner declining. There are an agreed number of hospital escorts per week in order to meet the needs of the prison’s population and this is kept under review by healthcare commissioners. The prison has also shown flexibility in facilitating additional escorts for prisoners with acute needs and long-term treatment plans. Hospital escorts have also been given greater priority since the revision of the prison’s regime management plan. The healthcare administrators work closely with hospitals to ensure prisoners who miss appointments are not pushed to the back of the waiting list. A lead GP has been appointed who is liaising with the prison to better understand and prioritise crucial hospital appointments. These are now reviewed on a weekly basis with a clinical decision made of who needs to attend hospital the following week, as well as any urgent patients needing to be sent directly to A&E by ambulance following assessment. All patients who refuse hospital appointments are re-booked in line with the relevant hospital trust’s policy and are spoken to by the healthcare team about the clinical risks of non-attendance.

Response
Turning to the Board’s request to mandate the use of Body Worn Video Cameras (BWVC), the current policy Prison Service Instruction 04/2017 - National Security Framework: Security Management - Body Worn Video Cameras is being reviewed. The review includes whether to mandate the wearing of BWVCs and is being considered as part of a larger piece of work to invest in the next generation of BWVCs, which will increase the availability, increase how they are used and improve the technology. A new policy Framework is anticipated for later in 2021. HMP/YOI Wormwood Scrubs continues to strive towards increasing the number of BWVCs being drawn by operational staff. The location to draw and return BWVCs has been moved to make these more accessible to staff and the number of BWVCs being drawn is monitored to ensure progress is maintained. A communications campaign has also been used around their usage, with signs displayed in prominent areas, as well as Notices to Staff issued and wing managers providing reminders to staff at daily briefings.

Response
I also recognise the Board’s request that funding continues to be available to enhance safety. HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is continuing to provide all staff with the tools and training they need to help them reduce violence, through the Safety Strategy that is in place at a national, regional and local level. A new Prison Performance Support Programme (PPSP) was also established (replacing Special Measures) to assist our most challenged prisons, including HMP/YOI Wormwood Scrubs, with the programme building on the learning from the 10 Prison Project. Whilst PPSP paused due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it will continue to provide prisons with tailored packages of support to help governors and their staff build the capability they need to improve safety and decency for all who work and live in them. Locally the prison has been liaising with the London Mayor’s Office of Police and Crime (MOPAC) throughout the Prison Pathfinder programme and an evaluation process will be undertaken with a view to continuing the most successful elements of the violence reduction initiatives that have been supported should MOPAC funding be available for the next financial year.