Report of the Inquiry into the circumstances of the Death of Bernard ...

LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS
I have exercised restraint in making recommendations. Those who work in prisons are
often best placed to draw lessons from past events and to devise operational solutions
to deficiencies. I hope that the Prison Service and those who are responsible for
healthcare in prisons will consider the findings of this inquiry and decide for themselves
whether there are further lessons to be drawn.
Mental health care in segregation units
1 I recommend that the Prison Service urges all prisons, in conjunction with their
local primary care trust, to provide dedicated mental health care for segregation
units (paragraph 13.25).
Access to Electronic Medical Information System (EMIS) in segregation units
2 I recommend that Electronic Medical Information Systems (EMIS) in prisons
incorporate provision for clinical staff to have confidential access to medical
information at a terminal in the segregation unit (paragraph 13.25).
Disclosure of information to the police
3 I recommend that the Prison Service considers issuing further guidance on
disclosure in cases where the police are investigating allegations of assault
involving prisoners and prison staff (paragraph 16.21).
4 In particular, I recommend that where the Prison Service declines to investigate
possible misconduct by staff because of a related police investigation, there is a
presumption that information that would have been material to a conduct
investigation should be disclosed to the police (paragraph 16.21).
Circulation of reports
5 I recommend that the Prison Service ensures that reports into the circumstances of
a death in prison are brought to the attention of all the establishments mentioned in
the report’s findings or conclusions so that any appropriate action can be taken and
any lessons learned (paragraph 16.21).
Adjudications and use of force
6 I recommend that the Prison Service advises adjudicators to consider examining
use of force statements in any adjudication where force has been used following
an incident of alleged assault (paragraph 21.17).
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