Scrubs chastised for forcing ill convict to be chained up on way to hospital

HMP Wormwood Scrubs has been slammed after failing to complete an escort risk assessment for a convicted sex offender who was taken to hospital, where he later died of lung cancer.

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman wrote that the decision to restrain Eric Stringer using an escort chain, which attached him to an officer, was based on ‘perceived risk’ and did not consider his medical condition and ability to escape.

The ombudsman made a single recommendation on the back of its report, which has been implemented by the prison.

Stringer was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison on May 3, 2024, for sexual offences.

An initial health check found he was prescribed medication for angina and high blood pressure and that his mobility was reduced, requiring a crutch.

In late May, Stringer began reporting abdominal pains, which worsened over the following month.

The ombudsman report noted that on June 22 he had been unable to get out of bed or eat since the previous day, and that a prison paramedic decided he should be taken to hospital due to having a suspected urinary tract infection.

According to the report: “Mr Stringer was restrained with an escort chain (a long chain with a handcuff at each end, one of which is attached to the prisoner and the other to an officer) and taken to hospital by ambulance.

“A Custodial Manager, who attended the escort and decided on the level of restraint, told us that escort risk assessments are not completed for emergency hospital escorts.”

An escort risk assessment was completed by the Head of Security the following day, which was not contributed to by healthcare staff.

Mr Stringer was confirmed to have lung cancer several days later before being transferred to another hospital on July 11 for inpatient palliative radiotherapy. He died on August 23, aged 78.

The ombudsman report detailed how a risk assessment must be completed for every hospital escort and involve healthcare staff. If an emergency escort is required due to a life-threatening situation, then an emergency escort risk assessment must be completed.

The Head of Security is recorded as telling the ombudsman that Mr Stringer went to hospital on an ‘unplanned emergency escort,’ meaning there was no time for a thorough assessment.

“However, Mr Stringer was admitted to hospital with ongoing confusion and reduced mobility,” the report read. “Therefore, it was not a life-threatening situation and healthcare staff were already present, so there was sufficient time for a risk assessment to be completed and for healthcare staff to be involved.”

The ombudsman recommended the governor and Head of Healthcare at Wormwood Scrubs introduce a ‘robust quality assurance process’ in response to its findings, ensuring a thorough risk assessment is completed for every non-life-threatening emergency hospital escort and that all staff receive the necessary training.

A Prison Service spokesman said: “HMP Wormwood Scrubs has accepted the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman’s recommendation.”

Pictured top: Entrance to the prison (Picture: Google Street View)