Background to this inspection
Updated
5 January 2023
HMP Altcourse is a Category B local prison operated by G4S. The prison is located in Liverpool and accommodates up to 1,164 adult male prisoners.
HCRG Medical Services Limited is the provider of secondary mental health services at HMP Altcourse. The provider is registered with the CQC to provide the following regulated activities at the location: Treatment of disease, disorder or injury and Diagnostic and screening procedures.
Our last comprehensive inspection was conducted jointly with HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) in November 2021 and published on the HMIP website on 18 February 2022. The joint inspection report can be found at: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/inspections/hmp-altcourse-3/
Updated
5 January 2023
We carried out an announced focused inspection of mental health services provided by Health Care Resourcing Group (HCRG) Medical Services Limited at HMP Altcourse to follow up on the Requirement Notice issued after our last inspection in November 2021.
At our last joint inspection with His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) in November 2021, we found that the quality of mental healthcare provided by HCRG Medical Services Limited at this location required improvement. We issued a Requirement Notice in relation to Regulation 17, Good governance, of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
The purpose of this focused inspection was to determine if the mental health services provided by HCRG were meeting the legal requirements of the Requirement Notice. At this inspection, we found that improvements had been made, and the provider was no longer in breach of the regulation.
We do not currently rate services provided in prisons. We highlight good practice and issues that service providers need to improve and take regulatory action as necessary.