HMP Wymott

Updated 26 February 2024

HMP Wymott is a Category C prison situated near Leyland, Lancashire. The prison accommodates approximately 1170 male prisoners and is operated by His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).

NHS England commission GMMH to deliver healthcare services at HMP Wymott. GMMH are registered with CQC to provide the regulated activities of diagnostic and screening procedures, and treatment of disease, disorder or injury.

Updated 26 February 2024

We carried out an announced focused inspection of healthcare services provided by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) at HMP Wymott between 18 and 21 December 2023. Our inspection was carried out by one CQC health and justice inspector supported by two health inspectors from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of prisons (HMIP). The inspection was carried out at the same time as a comprehensive inspection of health and social care services delivered within the prison in partnership with HMIP.

Following our last comprehensive inspection in November 2022, we found that the quality of healthcare provided by GMMH at this location required improvement. We issued two Requirement Notices as a result of breaches under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. The last inspection report can be found here:

HMP Wymott - Care Quality Commission (cqc.org.uk)

The purpose of this focused inspection was to determine if the healthcare services provided were meeting the legal requirements of the two Requirement notices that we issued in January 2023 and to find out if patients were receiving safe care and treatment.

At this inspection we found that the provider was now compliant with Regulation 17 under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, however were still in breach of Regulation 18. We identified new breaches under Regulation 16 the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

We do not currently rate services provided in prisons.

At this inspection we found:

• There were ongoing concerns regarding staff training and supervision.
• Low staffing levels were impacting the waiting times for patients to access psychological therapy.
• The recording of complaints had improved, however, we found new concerns with the complaints process including the timeliness of responses and lack of quality assurance.
• There had been some improvements to governance arrangements and the provider now had appropriate oversight of risks within the service.

We identified 2 breaches of regulations. The provider must:

• Establish and operate effectively an accessible system for identifying, receiving, recording, handling and responding to complaints by service users and other persons in relation to the carrying on of the regulated activity (Regulation 16 (2)).

• Ensure sufficient numbers of suitably qualified, competent, skilled and experienced persons are deployed to meet the fundamental standards of care and treatment (Regulation 18 (1)).

• Ensure persons employed in the provision of the regulated activity receive the appropriate support, training, professional development, supervision and appraisal necessary to enable them to carry out their duties (Regulation 18 (2)).