Cancer-Hit Prisoner's Death Sparks Action

An official watchdog for prisons has made five recommendations after an investigation into the death of an NI prisoner.

Paul Henderson, 59, died at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry (pictured), while in the custody of Magilligan Prison in 2009.

Mr Henderson was placed on remand in jail in 2004. He was later sentenced of 12 years for attempted rape despite having been diagnosed with cancer in December 2008.

Now, the Stormont Justice Minister David Ford said the recommendations from the Prisoner Ombudsman, Pauline McCabe have been accepted.

They recommended that the Prison Service and South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (SEHSCT) take action to ensure all Northern Ireland hospitals are aware of the correct process for notifying prisoner appointments.

The NI Justice Minister David Ford has also now expressed sympathy at the death.

He noted that the Ombudsman made five recommendations to the Prison Service, four of which also involve the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (SEHSCT), and all of which have been accepted.

The Director General of the Prison Service has now published an Action Plan in response to the recommendations contained in the Prisoner Ombudsman's Report.

Four of the recommendations have already been implemented, while the fifth is expected to be implemented by the end of November.

The Minister said: "I wish to thank the Ombudsman for her report. She has found that Mr Henderson was well cared for while in custody.

"Prison staff did much good work with him and the independent clinical review praised the care provided by prison staff, and referred to the prison's liaison with the hospital team as an example of good practice.

"I particularly welcome the finding of the independent review that the care that was given by Prison Health Services was entirely similar to that which one would expect in a civilian setting and was generally of a high quality.

"It is pleasing to note that the family of the deceased were greatly appreciative of the efforts of staff.

"The Ombudsman has however identified some areas for improvement in relation to procedures for hospital appointments and these are being addressed in the action plan which is being published in response to the report," he said.

(BMcC/GK)