Piran Khan

OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
Independent investigation into
A report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
the death of Mr Piran Khan,
a prisoner at HMP Wakefield,
on 21 February 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
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
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
Where we have identified any third-party copyright information you will need to obtain permission
from the copyright holders concerned.
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
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 10 May 2024, Mr Piran Khan was sentenced to life in prison for murder.
4. Mr Khan’s formal cause of death was not available when we issued this report. He
was diagnosed with lung cancer in June 2024 and was receiving palliative care
when he died at Wakefield on 21 February 2025. Mr Khan was 76 years old. We
offer our condolences to his family and friends.
5. The Ombudsman’s office contacted Mr Khan’s daughter, his nominated next of kin,
to explain the investigation and to ask if she had any matters she wanted us to
consider. She did not respond.
6. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr Khan’s care.
We did not find any non-clinical issues of concern.
7. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer, to review the clinical
care Mr Khan received at Wakefield. The clinical reviewer concluded that the
clinical care Mr Khan received at Wakefield was of a good standard and equivalent
to that which he would have received in the community. She identified some areas
of good practice, including the use of appropriate care plans to cover all of Mr
Khan’s essential care needs.
8. The clinical reviewer identified that, in October 2024, Mr Khan missed two days of
his oral chemotherapy medication. He kept his medication in his cell to take as
prescribed and did not inform staff that he had run out or reorder the medication in
line with usual practice (and in line with the community). Healthcare staff also did
not immediately identify that Mr Khan had run out of his medication. This was a
specialist medication that is supplied directly by the hospital and collected by prison
staff when required. The Head of Healthcare has since arranged with the hospital
pharmacy that they will directly contact the prison when a medication prescribed
and dispensed by hospital clinicians is ready to collect. We do not therefore make a
recommendation.
9. Towards the end of Mr Khan’s life, a GP at Wakefield completed a do not attempt
CPR (DNACPR) agreement with him, as his poor prognosis and health meant that
any resuscitation attempt would probably be futile. The clinical reviewer noted that
no Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment (ReSPECT)
was completed, which provides for the patient to discuss their wishes regarding
personalised treatment and care with the health professionals involved in their care.
The clinical reviewer noted that this process is recommended by the Resuscitation
Council UK. We make the following recommendation:
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 1
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
The Head of Healthcare should ensure that all prisoners with a life limiting
diagnosis and/or at end of life are given the opportunity to contribute to a
ReSPECT document, and this is recorded in the clinical record.
10. We shared the initial report with HM Prison and Probation Service. They did not
identify any factual inaccuracies.
11. The inquest into Mr Khan’s death concluded on 26 August 2026, returning a verdict
of natural causes.
Adrian Usher August 2025
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
2 Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
OFFICIAL - FO R 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