Black prisoner died alone following sickle cell crisis

The family of a Black sickle cell patient who died “naked and alone” in prison after a medical crisis have described their pain as an inquest found that neglect was a contributing factor.

- NADINE WHITE

Wayne Bayley was found unresponsive on the healthcare unit at HMP Pentonville on 17 May 2022, 10 hours after being restrained by prison officers in response to him raising concerns about being placed in a dirty cell, an inquest heard.

The 43-year-old had diagnoses of sickle cell disease, epilepsy and delusional disorder, and a jury found that he died of acute chest syndrome – the most common fatal complication of sickle cell – caused by the restraint. Bayley was moved to a segregated cell, subject to a forcible strip search which involved his clothes being cut off and left naked for seven hours.

The nurse responsible for monitoring his physical health during and after the restraint failed to address his stark deterioration. In particular, she did not take vital observations that an expert haematologist considered would have confirmed that the restraint had triggered a sickle cell crisis. This would have required urgent hospital treatment which would have saved his life.

Instead, without considering Bayley’s medical records which identified his sickle cell disease, she referred him for assessment by a mental health nurse.