PRESS RELEASE

11 February 2002

INQUEST OPENS INTO DEATH OF MAN AT HMP WOODHILL

10am Tuesday 12 February 2002
Sitting with HM Coroner Mr Lovegrove
at The Civic Offices, 1 Saxon Gate East, Central Milton Keynes.

Martin Ward, a 23-year-old prisoner at HMP Woodhill was found dead in his cell on the morning of 19th February 2001. The inquest into his death begins on Tuesday 12th February at 10am. It is expected to last 3 - 4 days.

Martin Ward was a young man with no history of ill health. However, during the week preceding his death he had complained of feeling ill with chest pains. He was described as hyperventilating and was coughing up and vomiting blood. He asked to see a doctor on several occasions; his fellow inmates expressed concern to prison officers; and the wing staff allegedly reported their concerns to the prison's Health Centre. Yet despite this the nurses who saw him failed to refer him to a doctor, even though a doctor was available at the time.

The inquest will look at whether the nursing staff failed to follow correct procedures, namely in that they did not apparently examine Mr Ward properly and did not make adequate notes. The family of Martin Ward believes that he should have been referred for emergency medical treatment but this was never done and that medical staff actions fell below acceptable standards. They also believe that the prison failed to put in place proper systems for communication between wing staff and health care staff.

Mr Ward died from 'lobar pneumonia'. The family has medical evidence that they believe will show that had Mr Ward received the correct treatment he would not have died.

The family's solicitor, Jocelyn Cockburn said:

"This was an entirely avoidable death. Martin Ward did everything in his power to get treatment for as a prisoner he was entirely dependent on others. Due to apparent individual and systemic failures in the prison he suffered a slow and painful death. There is evidence that prisoners are receiving sub-standard medical care, not only at HMP Woodhill, but also throughout the prison system. This must be addressed by the Prison Service urgently"

INQUEST Lawyers Group members Jocelyn Cockburn of Christian Fisher Solicitors and barrister Leslie Thomas are representing the family. Interviews with the family will be given at the conclusion of the inquest.

Notes to the Editor

1. Concern has been expressed about the number of deaths at HMP Woodhill. There have been 6 deaths in the last 12 months. The quality of medical treatment has been held out for specific criticism and an NHS Trust meeting in October 2000 described conditions as "diabolical". Despite indicating a need for urgent reform, nothing appears to have been done by February 2002.
2. The inquest into the death of Mr Ward is one of two taking place this week. The inquest of David McDonald is also being held in an adjacent court from Wednesday 13th February. His family is being represented by INQUEST Lawyers Group members James Bell of Christian Fisher Solicitors and barrister Stephen Simblett. Please contact the INQUEST offices for further information on this case.
3. There have been two self-inflicted deaths within the first three days of February 2002 at HMP Woodhill.