Watchdog calls for better end-of-life care at jail

A jail for sex offenders should have an end-of-life care centre, a watchdog report says.

The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) has released its latest findings for HMP The Verne in Portland, Dorset.

The annual report revealed prison officers spent more than 13,000 hours on bed watch duties between 2023-24.

An end-of-life facility in the prison would help "given the ageing population" held in the prison, the report explained.

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust is responsible for healthcare at the prison and has been contacted for comment.

The report highlights the "excellent, high-quality care" provided by Oxleas, but explained 33% of the 600 prisoners were over 60 years old.

It said: "A more elderly population means that many of the prisoners have complex health and social care needs. Some have multiple diagnoses of long-term or terminal illnesses."

The board said the current healthcare building is in a "deplorable state" and a new facility needs to be provided.

In September 2023, a 16-bed social care suite was opened in the prison, with care workers on shift 24 hours a day.

The board said the beds in this suite have been "fully occupied ever since the unit opened".

It continued: "Although the care suite is a most welcome addition to the prison, the board still feels that there should be a place for an end-of-life care suite that is staffed by a trained nurse 24 hours a day."

Figures included in the report show prison officers spent a total of 13,386 hours on bed watch and there had been six prisoner deaths in the report year.

A statement from The Verne IMB co-chairs said: "The board would welcome the provision of a dedicated end-of-life facility, which we feel would not only be a cost-effective addition to the existing provision, but provide sufficient care from appropriately trained medical staff to those with terminal illnesses."

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