Donald Higginson

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Independent investigation into
the death of Mr Donald
Higginson, a prisoner at HMP
Rye Hill, on 2 September 2024
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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OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
© Crown copyright, 2025
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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 March 2020, Mr Donald Higginson was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for
sexual offences. He died of a combination of respiratory failure (lack of oxygen and
excess of carbon dioxide) and hyponatraemia (lack of sodium in the bloodstream).
This was caused by paraneoplastic pseudo-obstruction (a digestive disorder) and
syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (a syndrome which causes the
body to retain too much water) which, in turn, were caused by lung cancer. He was
71 years old when he died on 2 September 2024 in hospital. We offer our
condolences to Mr Higginson’s family and friends.
4. The Ombudsman’s office wrote to Mr Higginson’s next of kin to explain the
investigation and to ask if they had any matters they wanted us to consider. They
did not respond.
5. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer to review Mr
Higginson’s clinical care at HMP Rye Hill.
6. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr Higginson received at Rye
Hill was of a good standard and equivalent to that which he could have expected to
receive in the community. The clinical reviewer made recommendations not related
to Mr Higginson’s death that the Head of Healthcare will wish to address.
7. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr Higginson’s
care. We did not find any non-clinical issues of concern. We make no
recommendations.
8. The initial report was shared with HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).
HMPPS did not find any factual inaccuracies.
Adrian Usher January 2025
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
Inquest
The inquest hearing was held on 7 July 2025. The Coroner concluded that Mr Higginson
died of natural causes.
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 1
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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