HMP Wormwood Scrubs

Updated 5 August 2021

HMP Wormwood Scrubs is a local Category B prison in inner west London. It is a designated resettlement prison holding up to 1150 adult men and some young adults. The prison is operated by Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service.

PPG is the health provider at HMP Wormwood Scrubs and is registered with CQC to provide the following regulated activities at this location: Treatment of disease, disorder or injury, and Diagnostic and screening procedures.

Our last inspections of HMP Wormwood Scrubs were a joint inspection with HMIP and a simultaneous focused inspection in September and October 2019. The reports from these inspections can be found here:

• https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/inspections/hmp-wormwood-scrubs-4/
• https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-3862840460/reports

Updated 5 August 2021

We carried out an announced focused inspection of healthcare services provided by Practice Plus Group Health and Rehabilitation Services Limited (PPG) at HMP Wormwood Scrubs between 14 and 18 June 2021.

Following our last joint inspection with Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) in September and October 2019, we found that the quality of healthcare provided at HMP Wormwood Scrubs by this provider did not meet the fundamental standards. We issued a Requirement Notice in relation to Regulation 12, Safe care and treatment, of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

The purpose of this focused inspection was to determine if PPG was meeting the legal requirements and regulations under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and that prisoners were receiving safe care and treatment.

We took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering how we carried out this inspection and took steps to minimise infection risks due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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.

At this inspection we found:

• The provider was now investigating reported incidents within agreed timeframes.
• Completion rates for comprehensive health assessments for new patients had improved significantly since our last inspection.
• Oversight and clinical management of patients with long-term health conditions was improving, including regular clinics to review patients and increased use of care plans.
• Care plans required development to ensure they sufficiently evidenced discussion with the patient and fully reflected the patient’s needs and preferences for their care.
• Further work was required to maintain an accurate register of patients’ long-term health conditions.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Ensuring that all patients with diagnosed long-term health conditions have a personalised care plan in place which reflects the patient’s wishes and needs.
• Ensuring that the service maintains an accurate register of patients with diagnosed long-term health conditions.