Prison Healthcare Team now out of 'special measures'

A warning that this story contains information which some readers may find upsetting.

Healthcare services at the Isle of Man Prison have now been taken out of ‘special measures’.

The Prison Healthcare Team was placed under them in December 2023 following the deaths of three prisoners in three years.

They had all taken their own lives.

At the inquest into the death of inmate Christopher Peter Corkill this week Manx Care confirmed the scrutiny process, instigated by the executive director of nursing, had ended at the end of May.

Special Measures

Special measures are instigated as part of an internal governance mechanism.

They’re designed to ensure any incident or issue that’s identified as ‘extremely challenging or high risk’ is given attention, resource and leadership in order to bring about positive change.

Giving evidence to Mr Corkill’s inquest Associate Director of Nursing Emma Cleator, who is responsible for prison healthcare, said there’d been an ‘intensive focus’ on all aspects of care delivery.

It followed criticism from the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman which had conducted an independent investigation following the death of fellow inmate Craig Anderson in November 2022.

The report, which is dated January this year but which was only publicly released in May, found there had been a number of failings within healthcare provision.

It also described mental health services at the prison at the time of Mr Anderson’s death, three months before that or Mr Corkill, as ‘inadequate, unsafe and not equivalent to what is available in the wider community’.

Complaint

The jury at Mr Corkill’s inquest heard that the 46-year-old former Ballasalla resident had made a complaint in August 2022 – the month after he was sent to prison.

In it he wrote: “My mental health is at an all time low. Why have I not been seen by a doctor yet let alone DAT (Drug and Alcohol Team)?”

He added that he wanted to ‘be treated fairly as if I was in the community’ and requested a ‘plan of attack’ be created.

Mrs Cleator told the court a doctor had reviewed his medical record days after he was sentenced to 34 months in custody but didn’t require to see him in person.

She added that his request in August had been actioned and he was put onto a GP list and was seen in September.  

However she confirmed that Mr Corkill wasn’t seen by mental health services and no care plan for his mental health was put in place.

She also acknowledged: “There’s no proper records in relation to this complaint.”

Describing Mr Corkill as ‘stable’ she said he would see members of the healthcare team twice a day, when his medication was issued, and he could have expressed any concerns at that point.

She also confirmed, whilst his physical health was being monitored, no detailed care plan for his physical complaints was put in place.

When asked about how many prisoners suffer with mental health problems Mrs Cleator added: “There is a perception there is a lot struggling – it’s variable.”

When asked if the mental health service in the prison was struggling she added: “Every area could say it’s underfunded.”

Verdict

Following three hours of deliberations the jury recorded a verdict of suicide.

Coroner of Inquests Graeme Cook confirmed afterwards he would be making a number of recommendations in relation to Mr Corkill and Mr Anderson’s inquests.

If you’ve been affected by any of the issues in this story there are details of local organisations that provide advice and support HERE.