Safety
The Board is concerned about self-harm. Although self-harm is a risk that the prison has to address at all times, Covid or non-Covid, the negative impact of a restricted regime (especially reduced contact with family and friends through visits) must create additional risks.
Substance Misuse
There is drug use in the prison. This creates acute and longer-term health issues and, at its most severe, can be an immediate risk to life.
Healthcare
In the 2019 / 20 the Board was concerned that not all of prisoners’ health needs were being met in a timely and effective manner. Our concerns applied to both physical and mental health conditions.
Mental Health
Capacity of mental health staffing ie the number of professional on-site staff available for prisoners in a timely manner
Healthcare
Access/agency – the ability of all prisoners (including those less confident with appointment-making systems) to get the care they need when they need it.
Complaints/Property
Complaints – in 2019/20 it was the Board’s view that the prison/healthcare were not receiving all complaints about health issues that should have been made. Some prisoners were unaware of healthcare complaints procedures and some were raising complaints informally (and less effectively) eg making verbal complaints to officers.
Safety
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) findings in reports into deaths in custody. There have been recommendations included in PPO reports into deaths in custody during the 2019 /20 year. It is important that all learning from such findings and recommendations is taken and this has been discussed by the board with prison and healthcare senior management.