Warry, Reginald

Independent investigation into
A report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
the death of Mr Reginald Warry,
a prisoner at HMP Ashfield,
on 27 March 2023
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
© Crown copyright, 2024
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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 Reginald Warry died in hospital of pneumonia (lung infection) and urosepsis
(sepsis caused by a bladder infection) on 27 March 2023, while a prisoner at HMP
Ashfield. He was 88 years old. We offer our condolences to Mr Warry’s family and
friends.
4. The PPO family liaison officer wrote to Mr Warry’s next of kin, his grandson, to
explain the investigation and to ask if he had any matters he wanted us to consider.
He did not respond.
5. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer to review Mr Warry’s
clinical care at Ashfield. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr
Warry received was of a reasonable standard and was largely equivalent to that
which he could have expected to receive in the community.
6. The clinical reviewer made two recommendations not directly related to Mr Warry’s
death which the Head of Healthcare will wish to address.
7. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr Warry’s
care. We did not find any non-clinical issues of concern. We make no
recommendations.
8. We shared our initial report with HMPPS. They found no factual inaccuracies in this
report. They pointed out a minor error in the clinical review which has been
amended.
Adrian Usher January 2024
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
Inquest
The inquest, held on 4 April 2024, concluded that Mr Warry died from natural causes.
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 1
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