Alan Hutchinson

OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
Independent investigation into
the death of Mr Alan Hutchinson,
a prisoner at HMP Isle of Wight,
on 21 October 2022
A report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
Third Floor, 10 South Colonnade Email: mail@ppo.gov.uk T l 020 7633 4100
Canary Wharf, London E14 4PU Web: www.ppo.gov.uk
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
© Crown copyright, 2026
This report is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0. To view this licence,
visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3
Where we have identified any third-party copyright information you will need to obtain permission
from the copyright holders concerned.
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
Summary
1. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman aims to make a significant contribution to
safer, fairer custody and community supervision. One of the most important ways in
which we work towards that aim is by carrying out independent investigations into
deaths, due to any cause, of prisoners, young people in detention, residents of
approved premises and detainees in immigration centres.
2. If my office is to best assist His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) in
ensuring the standard of care received by those within service remit is appropriate,
our recommendations should be focused, evidenced and viable. This is especially
the case if there is evidence of systemic failure.
3. Mr Alan Hutchinson died from pneumonia on 21 October 2022 at HMP Isle of
Wight. He was 75 years old. We offer our condolences to Mr Hutchinson’s family
and friends.
4. The clinical reviewer concluded that the care Mr Hutchinson received at Isle of
Wight was equivalent to that which he could have expected to receive in the
community. She commented that the prison healthcare team demonstrated clear
compassion, empathy and kindness towards Mr Hutchinson with a respectful
approach to supporting his personal wishes about his medical treatment.
5. We found no non-clinical issues of concern. We make no recommendations.
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 1
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
The Investigation Process
6. HMPPS notified us of Mr Hutchinson’s death on 21 October 2022.
7. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer to review Mr
Hutchinson’s clinical care at HMP Isle of Wight.
8. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr
Hutchinson’s care, including Mr Hutchinson’s location, the security arrangements
for his hospital escorts, liaison with his family and whether compassionate release
was considered.
9. The PPO family liaison officer wrote to Mr Hutchinson’s next of kin, his son, to
explain the investigation and to ask if he had any matters he wanted us to consider.
He raised no issues but asked for a copy of our report.
10. Mr Hutchinson’s son received a copy of the draft report. He did not make any
comments.
11. The initial report was shared with HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).
HMPPS pointed out one factual inaccuracy, a misspelling, and this report has been
amended accordingly.
Previous deaths at HMP Isle of Wight
12. Mr Hutchinson was the 16th prisoner to die at Isle of Wight since October 2020. Of
the previous deaths, 13 were from natural causes and two were self-inflicted.
2 Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
Key Events
13. On 9 April 2010, Mr Alan Hutchinson was sentenced to life imprisonment for
attempted murder.
14. On 2 February 2013, Mr Hutchinson was moved to HMP Isle of Wight.
15. On 18 June 2017, Mr Hutchinson had a heart attack and was taken to hospital in an
air ambulance. At hospital, a doctor diagnosed Mr Hutchinson with ischaemic heart
disease (a disease where the heart's blood supply is blocked or interrupted by a
build-up of fatty substances in the coronary arteries which supply blood to the
heart). The doctor operated on Mr Hutchinson and gave him two stents (tube-
shaped devices placed in the coronary arteries to keep the arteries open in the
treatment of heart disease). When Mr Hutchinson was well enough, he returned to
the prison.
16. On 2 November 2018, a doctor diagnosed Mr Hutchinson with left ventricular failure
(when the left ventricle, the heart's main pumping power source, is gradually
weakened). Mr Hutchinson remained in the prison and was given medication to
manage his condition.
17. On 9 January 2019, a doctor diagnosed Mr Hutchinson with a diaphragmatic hernia
(a condition where organs in the abdomen move through a hole in the stomach
muscle - surgery is required to place the organs back into the correct position). The
doctor told Mr Hutchinson that he was too weak for this surgery due to his heart
failure. No formal prognosis was given at this stage. However, Mr Hutchinson was
told he would not survive this condition without the surgery.
18. Over the next two years, prison healthcare staff offered Mr Hutchinson a palliative
cell in the prison’s healthcare unit. Mr Hutchinson repeatedly declined these offers
as he wanted to remain on his wing where he felt he had the support of his peers
and prison staff.
19. On 24 March 2021, Mr Hutchinson signed a Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary
Resuscitation (DNACPR) order, as he had decided that he did not want to be
resuscitated if his heart or breathing stopped.
20. On 16 December, Mr Hutchinson was given a prognosis of approximately one to
two years. Over the next year, Mr Hutchinson remained in the same cell and was
closely monitored by prison healthcare staff.
21. On 1 July 2022, Mr Hutchinson agreed to move to the end-of-life cell in the prison’s
healthcare unit so he could receive more specialist care.
22. In the early hours of 1 October, Mr Hutchinson reported severe pain in his arm and
stomach. The prison GP carried out an electrocardiogram (ECG, a test to check the
heart’s rhythm) which showed a probable heart attack. The prison called for an
ambulance, but Mr Hutchinson refused to go to hospital. Healthcare staff gave him
pain relief and monitored him closely.
23. At approximately 11.00am, when his pain had become unmanageable, Mr
Hutchinson agreed to go to hospital. He remained in hospital for the next few days,
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 3
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
where he was treated for a heart attack. He was discharged back to the prison on 5
October.
24. On 18 October, a GP saw Mr Hutchinson and concluded that his health was rapidly
deteriorating. Mr Hutchinson remained in the end-of-life cell, where nursing staff
continued to monitor him closely, assist him with daily living and keep him
comfortable with pain relief.
25. Mr Hutchinson died on the morning of 20 October. A GP recorded his time of death
as 6.37am.
Post-mortem report
26. The post-mortem report concluded that Mr Hutchinson died from pneumonia.
Severe cardiac failure due to ischaemic heart disease was listed as a contributory
factor.
Adrian Usher August 2023
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
Inquest
At the inquest, held on 5 September 2025, the Coroner concluded that Mr Hutchinson died
from natural causes.
4 Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
Third Floor, 10 South Colonnade Email: mail@ppo.gov.uk T l 020 7633 4100
Canary Wharf, London E14 4PU Web: www.ppo.gov.uk
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE