Care home nutritional choice

Hull (2023)

HMP Hull, a Category B local prison, reported generally safe conditions with violence rates below benchmarks and commendable staff-prisoner relationships. However, significant concerns persist regarding systemic overcrowding, inadequate double-cell accommodation, and insufficient catering budgets impacting food quality. Healthcare provision has improved following a change in contractors, but challenges remain with GP availability and access to specialist mental health care, alongside staffing shortages in other key areas.

PRISON Key concerns

Five Wells (2023)

HMP Five Wells, a Category C prison, opened in February 2022 and housed 1200 prisoners by March 2023, below its operational capacity of 1680. The IMB noted successes such as positive visitor feedback and streamlined safeguarding, but raised significant concerns including widespread illicit items, severe staffing shortages, and numerous design flaws in the new build. Key areas needing development involve consistent regime application, improved food and canteen services, and the re-establishment of resettlement-focused programmes like ROTL.

PRISON Key concerns

Featherstone (2024)

HMP Featherstone faced challenges including the dilapidated state of its facilities, persistent issues with property management, and stretched healthcare services, particularly for mental health. However, the Board observed improvements in staffing levels, education provision, and reduced waiting times for doctors and dentists. Key concerns remain around the prison's aging infrastructure, the treatment of mentally unwell prisoners in segregation, and inconsistent staff culture.

PRISON Key concerns

Altcourse (2025)

HMP Altcourse experienced a challenging reporting year due to significant prisoner movement and increased population, impacting various aspects of prison life from reception to resettlement. While positive strides were made in staff-prisoner relationships, key worker schemes, and diversified mental health provision, critical issues persist. Key concerns include the inadequacy of kitchen facilities, lack of education in segregation, delays in mental health transfers, and a high proportion of prisoners released without accommodation.

PRISON Key concerns

Bure (2025)

HMP Bure, a Category C training prison for sexual offenders, holds 639 prisoners against an operational capacity of 643. While commendable for humane treatment, high time out of cell, and low violence metrics, the Board identifies critical challenges. These include budget cuts impacting education and purposeful activity, inadequate healthcare for the aging population, and persistent staffing shortages affecting regime and support. National policy issues around prisoner wages and property management also remain significant concerns for the Board.

PRISON Key concerns

North East Midlands, Yorkshire & Humber STHF (2023)

In general, we are satisfied that sufficient food choices for different tastes, cultural, religious or medical food requirements are available although we found a significant exception to this on one of our port visits. We recommend all STHFs have arrangements in place that give adequate choices that recognise different food requirements.

Home Office

Oakwood (2024)

The Board is concerned by the widespread dissatisfaction among prisoners of the current food provision. How can the Director ensure that the issues raised are listened to and practical solutions are explored to try to reduce this level of discontent?

Governor / Director

Parc (2022)

Complaints continued regarding food, raising questions over quality, quantity and choice. This raises several questions such as when the provision of food was last reviewed and whether a nutritionist is involved in the process. There is a need to review the catering provision at Parc.

Governor / Director

Parc (2023)

Put in place a process whereby prisoners’ food is regularly assessed for nutritional value, calorific content, quality and quantity.

Governor / Director Implemented

Parc (2023)

Set a minimum spend per prisoner to ensure food supplied offers both quantity and quality along with nutritional value to satisfy prisoners’ calorific needs, as it is unreasonable that prisoners have to supplement their food intake by purchasing from the prison canteen.

HMPPS Noted

Lincoln (2024)

Are there plans to increase the prisoner’s daily food allowance, as providing nutritional meals is increasingly difficult?

HMPPS Implemented

Lincoln (2025)

The Board recommends that plans are made to increase the prisoner’s daily food allowance as providing nutritional meals is increasingly difficult.

HMPPS In Progress

Altcourse (2020)

The food provided to prisoners is an area that has concerned the Board for a number of years. Although there have been some improvements, particularly in the latter part of the reporting year, more still needs to be done in terms of consistency in the quality of the food, and the timely maintenance of kitchen equipment.

Governor / Director

Wormwood Scrubs (2021)

Given that there is acknowledgement within the prison that the food, its production and nutritional value and its quantity are an issue, can the Governor consider with some urgency how this can be remedied? If there is to be consultation, the Board suggests that this should be done speedily.

Governor / Director

Woodhill (2021)

To review the per-day funding allocation for food and to ensure that prisoners are able to access, for example, five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, in line with current Department of Health and Social Care guidance

Other Implemented

Wayland (2021)

The Board understands that the per diem allowance of prison catering has remained at £2.02 for many years. It is the Board’s view that an increase per diem would create greater prisoner satisfaction with a fundamental aspect of the prison’s care for its prisoners and thereby encourage their positive response to the regime as a whole (see section 5.1).

Other In Progress

Onley (2023)

Will there be any review of the food budget, which appears insufficient to ensure that prisoner meals are of a sufficient quality and quantity?

HMPPS

North East Midlands, Yorkshire & Humber STHF (2023)

In locations where detentions are predictably frequent or scheduled in advance, we recommend that a selection of fresh fruit is available for those detained. We appreciate this is not necessarily viable in some port locations where detentions are less frequent and unpredictable. Some STHFs have water readily available for people who are detained, either through a water dispenser or bottled …

Other

North East Midlands, Yorkshire & Humber STHF (2023)

In locations where detentions are predictably frequent or scheduled in advance, we recommend that a selection of fresh fruit is available for those detained. We appreciate this is not necessarily viable in some port locations where detentions are less frequent and unpredictable. Some STHFs have water readily available for people who are detained, either through a water dispenser or bottled …

Home Office

Parc (2024)

Put in place a process whereby prisoners’ food is regularly assessed for nutritional value, calorific content, quality and quantity.

Governor / Director

Parc (2024)

Set a minimum spend per prisoner to ensure food supplied offers both quantity and quality along with nutritional value to satisfy prisoners’ calorific needs, as it is unreasonable that prisoners have to supplement their food intake by purchasing from the prison canteen.

HMPPS

Stoke Heath (2025)

Prisoners complain to the IMB about the quality and quantity of food they receive. Will the Governor make a concerted effort to reduce food waste by improving food quality?

Governor / Director In Progress

Stoke Heath (2025)

The IMB receives many complaints about the food, especially the lunchtime options. The budget per capita is well below that provided for schools. Will the Prison Service provide resource to improve the food options available to prisoners?

HMPPS In Progress

Moorland (2020)

Can the national daily budgetary allowance for food be reviewed, to ensure sufficient nutrition for all prisoners?

HMPPS In Progress

Winchester (2021)

Can the canteen list include more items of fresh fruit and vegetable for prisoners who wish to purchase them? (See section 5.1).

HMPPS In Progress

Moorland (2021)

The Board requests that the national daily budgetary allowance for food be reviewed on a national level to ensure that prisoners are receiving adequate nutrition.

HMPPS Noted

Whitemoor (2022)

Will HMPPS review the way in which prisoners in high security prisons are fed, taking into account the facilities and equipment supplied for the main kitchen; the qualifications of staff; the budget allowed for the purchase of food; the canteen and its approach to pricing?

HMPPS

Warren Hill (2022)

In light of ongoing concerns about the provision of food from the Hollesley Bay kitchen, the Board asks again that consideration be given to reinstating the kitchens at Warren Hill

HMPPS

Oakwood (2022)

The Board continues to be concerned about prisoners in the servery not wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and clothing. Notwithstanding that Aramark provided continuity of a balanced menu and two cooked meals a day, the Board is still concerned about the quality, quantity and variety of the food provided and the ensuing waste that results, and that the …

Governor / Director

Norwich (2022)

Will the Minister please outline his plan for aligning the catering budget with the increases in the cost of living to ensure prisoners can be offered a balanced and nutritious diet?

Ministry of Justice Noted

Morton Hall (2022)

reducing the rate of returns for canteen goods and in particular ensuring a satisfactory quality of food items, notably cheese and fresh fruit, and ensuring that prisoner returns are refunded promptly (see paragraph 5.1.8)

Governor / Director

Moorland (2022)

Once again, the Board is requesting that the food budget is increased

Governor / Director

East Sutton Park (2022)

To review the contents of the canteen list more regularly to ensure that it is relevant to the needs of the residents.

Governor / Director

Thorn Cross (2023)

To reconsider the current proposals for central dining (5.1.4).

Governor / Director

Morton Hall (2023)

Enforcing the DHL contract (which delivers canteen items to the prison) to reduce the rate of returns for canteen goods and, in particular, ensuring: (a) a satisfactory quality of fresh food items; and (b) a regular and reliable supply of advertised items (paragraph 5.1.9).

HMPPS In Progress

Morton Hall (2023)

Increasing the daily food cost allowance, given levels of food cost inflation and the current reliance on carbohydrates (paragraphs 5.1.2, 5.1.10; Annexes 3 and Applications to the IMB).

HMPPS Implemented

Hull (2023)

The Governor should ensure all reasonable steps are taken to improve food quality (notably lunch time offering), whilst continuing to work within very restricted budgetary constraints (see also ‘to the Prison Service).

Governor / Director

High Down (2023)

What steps can be taken to improve cleanliness in the houseblock serveries and improve portion control to ensure all prisoners receive enough food?

Governor / Director

Frankland (2023)

The preparation of food for religious beliefs often challenges an already limited daily prison meal allowance. When will the Minister raise the allowance, in line with the rise in the cost of food?

Ministry of Justice Noted

Five Wells (2023)

What steps are being taken to ensure a good standard of food is available for prisoners, and food safety requirements are met?

Governor / Director

Derwentside IRC (2023)

To improve the quality and variety of the food served to the detained women.

Governor / Director

Thorn Cross (2024)

To reconsider the current proposals for central food/dining.

Governor / Director

Hull (2024)

Will the Prison Service be increasing catering budget allocations in response to increased food supplier costs to ensure a healthy and balanced diet can be provided to each prisoner?

HMPPS Implemented

Cardiff (2024)

The Board believes the process for provision of specific dietary needs should be reviewed and improvements made where possible.

Governor / Director

Belmarsh (2024)

Will the Governor work with the various stakeholders in the procurement and preparation of food to improve the nutritional content and quality?

Governor / Director

Preston (2025)

What steps will the Governor take to ensure that the prison provides good quality meals for prisoners, with adequate provision for special diets? This requires kitchen equipment to be functioning at optimum level.

Governor / Director

Springhill (2021)

The Board queries how long the prison will be able to sustain standards on food based on a budget per head that has remained unchanged for many years (see 5.1.15).

HMPPS Noted

Norwich (2021)

The daily budget for food of £2.02 has not been increased since 2014. Will HMPPs give an indication of when this might be reviewed?

HMPPS Rejected

Garth (2021)

The food budget be increased as a matter of urgency.

HMPPS In Progress

Morton Hall (2022)

to consider increasing the daily food cost allowance, given levels of food cost inflation and the reliance on carbohydrates (see paragraph 5.1.2).

HMPPS

Lincoln (2023)

Are there plans to increase the prisoner’s daily food allowance of £2.20? Inflation continues to rise and providing nutritional meals is increasingly difficult.

HMPPS Implemented

Lewes (2023)

The Board is concerned that, in the light of the cost of living crisis, the prisoner food budget will very soon be insufficient. When will the prison service be reviewing this?

HMPPS

Hull (2023)

Despite a recent uplift in the daily budget allocation per prisoner for catering, the establishment continues to provide additional funding from other budget allocations. Furthermore, prisoners were found to subsiding their diets with their own personal funds. Will the Prison Service be significantly increasing catering budget allocations in response to increased food supplier costs to ensure a healthy and balanced …

HMPPS

Derwentside IRC (2023)

To ensure that the processes for identifying and catering for food allergies are completely failsafe.

Governor / Director

Werrington (2024)

Are the food portions issued to young people, who are physically developing, adequate for their age?

HMPPS Implemented