Eric Purkiss

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Independent investigation into
the death of Mr Eric Purkiss,
a prisoner at HMP Wakefield,
on 3 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, 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. On 9 May 1985, Mr Eric Purkiss was sentenced to life imprisonment for attempted
murder. He died in prison of a stroke on 3 September 2024, at HMP Wakefield. He
was 68 years old. We offer our condolences to Mr Purkiss’s family and friends.
4. The Ombudsman’s office contacted Mr Purkiss’s niece to explain the investigation
and to ask if she had any matters she wanted us to consider. She did not respond.
5. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer to review Mr
Purkiss’s clinical care at Wakefield.
6. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr Purkiss received at
Wakefield was of a good standard and equivalent to that which he could have
expected to receive in the community. The clinical reviewer made one
recommendation unrelated to Mr Purkiss’s death which the Head of Healthcare will
wish to address.
7. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr Purkiss’s
care.
8. We did not find any non-clinical issues of concern. We make no recommendations.
9. We shared our initial report with HMPPS and the prison’s healthcare provider,
Practice Plus Group. They pointed out some minor factual inaccuracies in the
clinical review which has been amended.
10. The inquest, held on 23 September 2024, concluded that Mr Purkiss died from
natural causes.
Adrian Usher
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman December 2024
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