Prisoner died despite family's repeated calls about his failing health

FIVE VOICEMAILS HAD BEEN LISTENED TO BUT WERE NOT ACTED UPON

- By LOUIS CORBETT louis [e-mail]

A WATCHDOG has found that “missed opportunities” could have led to the death of a Nottingham-shire prisoner, despite concerns raised by his family.

Christopher Walton was 67 when he died in Ranby Prison and, while staff did carry out a welfare check, qualified medical staff did not review his deteriorating condition.

A clinical reviewer said that the care Walton received wasn’t equal to that which he would receive in the community, as they found multiple “missed opportunities” such as the five voicemails left by his family raising concerns that his health was declining.

The report states that, despite signs of his declining state, staff did not recognise his heart condition, and it became apparent after his death that he had not been taking his medication for at least three weeks.

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman was told by Walton's family that, despite raising concerns about his symptoms that were in line with serious cardiovascular disease, the voicemails left on the at-risk line log were listened to, but no action was taken.