First aid concerns at HMP Wandsworth after two prisoner deaths

By Charlotte Lillywhite, Local Democracy Reporter

A coroner has raised concerns over the standard of first aid training given to staff at HMP Wandsworth, after investigating the deaths of two prisoners. 

Inquests into the deaths of Yuri Hatton, 44, in November 2018, and Daniel Beckford, 39, in June 2021, revealed failings by prison staff after they were found unresponsive in their cells.

Priya Malhotra, assistant coroner for Inner West London, has now warned action should be taken by HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and HMP Wandsworth to prevent future deaths. She has published separate Prevention of Future Deaths reports outlining her concerns in each case.

Healthcare staff were first called to Mr Hatton’s cell on November 7, 2018, after a suspected drug overdose. He was given naloxone to ease the effects and was reported to be alert, breathing easily and watching television in bed that night.

But less than 30 minutes later, staff found Mr Hatton breathing abnormally in his cell and began CPR. He was taken to intensive care at St George’s Hospital, Tooting, on November 8, and died in intensive care the next day on November 9.

An inquest in April this year found four failures which may have contributed to Mr Hatton’s death, including staff failing to call an ambulance when he was first given naloxone. The jury ruled there were also ‘inappropriate clinical observations’ of Mr Hatton and ‘inadequate communications’ between staff.

Ms Malhotra said she confirmed with HMP Wandsworth after the inquest that only five out of 83 operational support grade workers had received official training from the HMPPS, despite these officers often being the first to respond to an emergency.

Mr Beckford was remanded in custody at HMP Wandsworth on June 14, 2021. He was taken to St George’s after being found unresponsive in his cell three days later on June 17, but died in intensive care on June 23.

An inquest, also in April this year, ruled Mr Beckford died by suicide. The jury found there was ‘insufficient, regular basic life support training, which resulted in Mr Beckford being placed in the recovery position before CPR (chest compressions) commenced’.

In a separate report into Mr Beckford’s death, Ms Malhotra said evidence provided by witnesses revealed ‘an absence of clarity in the first aid training to prison officers on the use of rescue breaths during resuscitation attempts, as per current advice from the Resuscitation Council UK’.

HMPPS and HMP Wandsworth must respond to the coroner with a timeline of action to address the concerns raised in her reports.

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “Our thoughts remain with the friends and family of Daniel Beckford and Yuri Hatton. Since these deaths, we have redirected £100million to be spent on improving security, safety and conditions at HMP Wandsworth over the next five years. 

“The prison has also developed first aid awareness training videos in conjunction with St John Ambulance to refresh key elements of first aid for all staff.”

Pictured top: HMP Wandsworth (Picture: Facundo Arrizabalaga)