Background to this inspection
Updated
11 April 2019
HMP YOI Low Newton is a female closed prison, located in Durham. At the time of our inspection the population was around 320 prisoners, including a mix of adults and young women aged 18-21.
Health care services at HMP YOI Low Newton are commissioned by NHS England. The contract for the provision of GP and pharmacy services is held by Spectrum. Spectrum is registered with CQC to provide the regulated activities of Diagnostic and Screening procedures, Treatment of disease, disorder or injury (family planning?) .
Our last joint inspection with HMIP was in February 2018. The joint inspection report can be found at:
https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/inspections/hmp-yoi-low-newton-2/
Updated
11 April 2019
We carried out an announced focused inspection of healthcare services provided by Spectrum Community Health CIC (Spectrum) at HMP and YOI Low Newton on 26 February 2019.
Following our last joint inspection with Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) in February 2018, we found that the quality of healthcare provided by Spectrum at this location did not meet regulations. We issued one Requirement Notice in relation to Regulation 12, Safe Care and Treatment, of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
The purpose of this inspection was to determine if the healthcare services provided by Spectrum were now meeting the legal requirements and regulations under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and that patients were receiving safe care and treatment.
We do not currently rate services provided in prisons.
At this focused inspection we found:
- The provider had worked effectively with other health providers to ensure that medicines were prescribed and administered safely.
- The provider had made improvements to the management of medicines including ensuring patients were appropriately risk assessed when prescribed medicines.
- Prescribers clearly recorded risk assessments in patient records when they were prescribing medicines.
- Managers conducted audits of patient records to ensure that policies and procedures were being followed.