Nurses ‘passing out’ after inhaling Spice

Nurses have been forced to suffer the effects of inhaling Spice, some batches of which have been found to contain cockroach killer, when administering emergency care to prison inmates.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said it has consulted with prison bosses who have agreed to improve the safety of healthcare staff who risk exposure to the deadly drug.

Nurses and healthcare assistants are often first on the scene when inmates need emergency care, and under current guidance they are expected to enter cells before the dangerous smoke from the drug has cleared.

The effects can last for hours, with staff passing out, unable to administer medicine or drive home.

The HM Prison and Probation Service has agreed to work with the RCN to update its guidance to reflect the reality of clinical staff dealing with unpredictable and dangerous psychoactive substances.