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Prisoner died after less than a week in jail
A PRISONER who had been locked up for less than a week died of blood poisoning after a number of failings at Doncaster prison, an inquest heard yesterday.
When Stephen Brown was admitted to Doncaster Royal Infirmary he was in an "appalling" condition, suffering from dehydration, hypothermia, pneumonia and septicaemia. He died on March 19, 2003.
Several other prisoners said they repeatedly told nursing staff the 23-year-old, who was serving an eight-month sentence, was not simply suffering the effects of drug withdrawal and they were worried about his deteriorating health.
Despite this, and concerns also being raised by a prison officer, nursing staff failed to undertake basic assessments such as taking his temperature and pulse.
Mr Brown, from Aston in Rotherham, was only transferred to hospital after a cardiac arrest.
Nursing staff at Doncaster Royal Infirmary said they were shocked by his appearance.
Although he was unable to move and evidently critically ill, Brown was chained to a prison officer until the last minutes of his life.
The Brown family, who have waited five years for the inquest, said in a statement that the prison failed in its duty of care.
"Our son had his problems, but we believed he would be safe when he was in prison. Instead he was left to die in squalor and pain. He did not deserve that, nobody does."
Stephen Brown's family was represented by Inquest Lawyers Group barrister Leslie Thomas, instructed by Philippa Matthews, of Howells Solicitors in Sheffield.
Ms Matthews said: "Stephen Brown died just over five years ago. We heard at the inquest that Doncaster prison have implemented changes since Stephen's death. Let's hope that the changes that we have been told of mean that these tragic circumstances are never repeated."
Sian Griffiths, casework service manager at Inquest, said: "The treatment of Stephen Brown in Doncaster prison was degrading and inhumane." Failure to provide even basic nursing care represented "a completely unacceptable failure in the state's duty of care."
The inquest jury, sitting at Doncaster Magistrates Court, gave a narrative verdict.
A Doncaster Prison spokesman offered condolences to Brown's family and friends and said that in the five years since "this regrettable incident" it had introduced an integrated drug treatment service.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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