Patrick McCann

OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
Independent investigation into
the death of Mr Patrick McCann,
a prisoner at HMP Forest Bank,
on 17 September 2025
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, 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
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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 December 2021, Mr Patrick McCann was sentenced to 150 months in prison for
sexual offences. He died in hospital of a lower respiratory tract infection and
cellulitis (a skin infection) on 17 September 2025, while a prisoner at HMP Forest
Bank. He was 78 years old. We offer our condolences to those who knew him.
4. Mr McCann had no nominated next of kin and the prison was unable to trace any
family. The Ombudsman’s office was therefore unable to write to a next of kin about
the investigation into Mr McCann’s death.
5. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer to review Mr
McCann’s clinical care at Forest Bank.
6. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr McCann received at Forest
Bank was of a good standard and equivalent to that which he could have expected
to receive in the community. She made four recommendations not related to Mr
McCann’s death which the Head of Healthcare will wish to address.
7. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr McCann’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,
Spectrum Community Health CIC. They found no factual inaccuracies.
10. At the inquest, held on 17 March 2026, the Coroner concluded that Mr McCann died
from natural causes.
Adrian Usher March 2026
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 1
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