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BBC News
a day ago
- Health
- BBC News
Diabetes training after HMP The Verne death 'not necessary'
Prison staff will not be given further training about diabetes despite a coroner's concerns that a lack of knowledge contributed to an inmate's Lovett, 53, who was insulin-dependent and had Type 1 diabetes, was found unresponsive at HMP The Verne in Portland, Dorset, in October coroner Rachael Griffin said a lack of awareness among general prison staff of diabetes and hypoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic attacks could lead to future HM Prison and Probation Service's director general of operations told Mrs Griffin that it was not "necessary or appropriate" for all operational prison staff to take specific training. Michelle Jarman-Howe said there were "many other topics that are of higher priority and/or have more general application" than caring for diabetes and that "training time is limited".If there is any need for staff to have training for diabetes or another condition in an individual prison, "they are able to raise this with the governor and consideration can then be given to developing local awareness sessions", she added.A jury, which concluded Lovett died by suicide, was told his medical causes of death were an insulin overdose and hypertensive and ischaemic heart found that he had access to insulin in his cell and that "possibly contributed more than minimally to his death".It added that the "inadequacy of risk management and support at HMP The Verne possibly contributed more than minimally to his death". You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
11-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Coroner alarmed by lack of diabetes expertise at HMP The Verne
Prison workers' "lack of understanding" of how to manage diabetes or problems relating to it could have contributed to an inmate's suicide, a coroner Lovett, 53, was found unresponsive at HMP The Verne in Portland, Dorset, on 29 October was insulin-dependent after being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1989 and Dorset coroner Rachael Griffin found prison staff had never received training relating to hypoglycaemic or hyperglycaemic Griffin said the prison's healthcare department only operated between 07:30 and 18:00 daily and outside those times staff were reliant on calling paramedics or other healthcare staff. She said she worried that the same situation will be the same at other prisons."There is a balance to be struck with training non-medical individuals in diagnosing medical symptoms… However the head of healthcare at [the prison] stated there would be benefit in providing an awareness to Prison Service staff of the impact on prisoners of long-term conditions, such as diabetes," Mrs Griffin concern about that wider issue will be sent to the health secretary Wes Streeting and HM Prison and Probation Service.A jury, which concluded Lovett died by suicide, was told his medical causes of death were an insulin overdose and hypertensive and ischaemic heart found that he had access to insulin in his cell and that "possibly contributed more than minimally to his death".It added that the "inadequacy of risk management and support at HMP The Verne possibly contributed more than minimally to his death".The Ministry of Justice was approached to comment. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
