Barry Wemyss

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Independent investigation into
A report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
the death of Mr Barry Wemyss,
a prisoner at HMP Northumberland,
on 17 July 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
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© Crown copyright, 2024
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
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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. In July 2019, Mr Barry Wemyss was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for sexual
offences. He died of heart failure on 17 July 2023, at HMP Northumberland. He was
46 years old. We offer our condolences to Mr Wemyss’ family and friends.
4. The PPO family liaison officer wrote to Mr Wemyss’ brother to explain the
investigation and to ask if he had any matters he wanted us to consider. He did not
respond to our letter.
5. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr Wemyss’
care. We did not find any non-clinical issues of concern.
6. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer to review Mr
Wemyss’ clinical care at HMP Northumberland.
7. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr Wemyss received was of a
reasonable standard and equivalent to that which he could have expected to
receive in the community.
8. We make the following recommendation related to the clinical care Mr Wemyss
received:
• The Head of Healthcare should ensure that all patients who present with
chest pain have an electrocardiogram (ECG) undertaken in accordance
with NICE guidelines NG95 Recent-onset chest pain of suspected cardiac
origin: assessment and diagnosis.
9. We shared our initial report with HMPPS and with the prison’s healthcare provider,
Spectrum Community Health CIC. They found no factual inaccuracies. Spectrum
Community Health CIC provided an action plan which is annexed to this report.
Adrian Usher May 2024
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
Inquest
The inquest, held on 16 July 2024, concluded that Mr Wemyss died from natural causes.
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 1
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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