[T]he Care Quality Commission (CQC) have today published a report detailing significant improvement to health services at HMP Haverigg following a re-inspection in January 2018.
The CQC carried out the latest inspection after a previous visit in April 2017 found a number of areas for improvement and issued Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) with a requirement notice to address these issues. The CQC are now more than satisfied that the improvements have been made, and have no further areas for concern.
The recent inspection showed significant improvements had been made in all areas raised for concern in the original report, including:
- The Trust has worked with prison staff and pharmacy colleagues to improve procedures for storing, administering and transporting medication.
- A new protocol was implemented to ensure that all prisoners held in segregated conditions were seen and reviewed daily by health care staff.
- A range of staff have completed training in the management of long-term conditions, and are working more closely with GPs to improve the care of these patients.
- Health care staff have also received additional training to be able to assess and diagnose more conditions on site, alongside advanced life support training.
- The Trust reviewed its policy on abusive behaviour and introduced posters setting out expected behaviour.
To improve the safety of staff, work is underway to pilot a scheme where staff working in areas with high levels of threatening and abusive behaviour would wear body cameras after completing additional prison training. - The Trust has improved screening pathways for a number of conditions, as well as improving support for patients with blood bourne viruses, such as Hepatitis.
In addition, the Trust has reviewed its staffing model and introduced several new roles, including a quality and safety lead, who ensures that the service at HMP Haverigg is aligned with the wider trust procedures.
Stephen Eames, Chief Executive at Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said: “It is great to see the CQC have recognised all of the improvements which our health care team at Haverigg have made over the past year. These improvements really highlight the hard work and dedication that our staff have put into improving the health care we provide to the inmates at HMP Haverigg. It is also pleasing to see that the safety of our staff working onsite has improved and staff are working to improve professionally through completing further training.”
The healthcare team at HMP Haverigg have been shortlisted for a regional Prison Officer of the Year Award, for the positive impact of the joint working between prison staff and the healthcare team, including shared training, the response to an increased use of psychotic substances and processes to reduce the number of prisoners attending A&E. Much of this work has been recognised as best practice and shared with prisons across the region.
The full report can be read on the CQC website.
