HMP YOI Stoke Heath

We carried out an announced desktop inspection of healthcare services provided by Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust at HMP YOI Stoke Heath in October 2019.

Following our last joint inspection with Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisoners (HMIP) in November 2018, we found that the quality of healthcare provided at this location did not meet regulations. We issued one 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 inspection was to determine if the healthcare services provided by the trust were meeting the legal requirements and regulations under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and that patients were receiving safe care and treatment.

At this desktop inspection we found:

• The provision of emergency equipment had increased to support a prompt response to emergencies.
• The trust had worked with the prison and local authority to introduce new safeguarding protocols to support vulnerable prisoners.
• New pharmacy staff were in place and medicines were now managed safely.
• The mental health service was now fully integrated with a range of support available for patients with mild to moderate mental health needs.
• Patients who were referred to the mental health service were assessed within five working days.
• The trust had subcontracted a new dental service and additional weekly clinics had reduced waiting times to under 10 weeks.
• Several patients had been trained as Health and Wellbeing champions and actively supported the development of the health services at HMP YOI Stoke Heath.
• The healthcare team were proactive in working with partners to introduce new initiatives and improvements to support safe and effective patient care.

There were some areas where the trust should make further improvements.

• Review governance arrangements to ensure new processes are appropriately monitored and formally recorded to help inform continuous improvement.