‘Therapeutic’ jail sent the wrong inmate to hospital
A PRISONER with the same name as another inmate was wrongly released for a hospital visit, a report has revealed.
The blunder at HMP Grendon in Buckinghamshire – home to 180 inmates, many serving life sentences for murder, rape and arson – was revealed in a report published last week by inspectors from the Independent Monitoring Board.
The inmate, called a “resident”, was taken from his room – as the cells are called at the UK’S only fully therapeutic prison – and escorted to a nearby hospital.
A red flag was only raised when the inmate seemed confused about why he was in hospital.
Medics told escorting prison guards about the bungle, and the inmate was promptly returned to jail.
The prisoner who was actually due in hospital was told about the error soon after and was told his appointment would have to be rearranged.
The report says it is not the first time an incident like this has happened: another inmate was sent wrongly to hospital in 2019. The report at the time stated: “The wrong resident was sent to hospital, where he was not identified before the correct resident’s health details had been shared with him.”
HMP Grendon is the UK’S only fully therapeutic prison, with fish tanks and potted plants dotted about the jail to help keep inmates relaxed and calm.
A prison source, speaking about HMP Grendon, said that the jail was an “incredible resource” but that errors could happen.
He said: “Grendon is a fantastic prison – it really is at the cutting edge of trying to rehabilitate prisoners, some of whom are in for the most serious of crimes.
“This incident is obviously not something to be proud of, but it shouldn’t detract from what the jail is trying to do.”
Prison chiefs, speaking previously, said the error had been made by the jail’s primary healthcare provider, Practice Plus Group.
A spokesman for the Practice Plus Group, speaking about the wrong prisoner being taken to hospital, said it had been “open and honest” with the patient about how the bungle occurred.