Stephen Sleaford

“Action is required to ensure that Prison Officers and Staff with direct access to prisoners have basic first aid training, CPR training and familiarisation with the use of a defibrillator.”

“Evidence was heard that after April 2024, basic first aid training (including CPR training) has been omitted from the foundation training programme for those training to be prison officers,”

“it is a matter of concern that in December 2010 only one of four officers were first aid trained”

“basic first aid training (including CPR training) has been omitted from the foundation training programme for those training to be prison officers”

“The prison officers did not have even the most basic first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training.”

“Evidence was heard that the majority of those prison officers who had commenced in their roles prior to 2018 had no first aid/basic life-saving skills and no ability/training in undertaking cardiopulmonary resuscitation ('CPR').”

“(4) There is no mandatory first aid training for existing (as opposed to new) prison officers.”

“after April 2024, basic first aid training (including CPR training) has been omitted from the foundation training programme for those training to be prison officers”

“- (1) Some Prison staff had not received any cardiopulmonary resuscitation training. Either as part of initial training or any refresher training.”

“Evidence was heard that the majority of those prison officers who had commenced in their roles prior to 2018 had no first aid/basic life-saving skills and no ability/training in undertaking cardiopulmonary resuscitation ('CPR').”

“Prison staff are often first responders to medical emergencies of prisoners, but not all have received first aid training.”

“Evidence was heard that after April 2024, basic first aid training (including CPR training) has been omitted from the foundation training programme for those training to be prison officers”

“Prison officers will usually be first on scene, particularly if a prisoner is found in their cell and this lack of basic life support training is leading to a delay in the commencement of CPR.”

“Evidence was heard that the majority of those prison officers who had commenced in their roles prior to 2018 had no first aid/basic life-saving skills and no ability/training in undertaking cardiopulmonary resuscitation ('CPR').”

“It is not mandatory for prison officers to have basic first aid training (which includes the provision of CPR) which is in-date.”

“Evidence was heard that after April 2024, basic first aid training (including CPR training) has been omitted from the foundation training programme for those training to be prison officers”

“Evidence was heard that the majority of those prison officers who had commenced in their roles prior to 2018 had no first aid/basic life-saving skills and no ability/training in undertaking cardiopulmonary resuscitation ('CPR').”

“Officers who were present during Mr [name redacted] cardio-respiratory arrest had different training with regard to first aid and basic life support. During the course of the inquest, evidence was heard that whilst all uniformed prison officers would have regular training in respect of control and restraint, not all had recent (if any) training in first aid or basic life support.”

“Evidence was heard that the majority of those prison officers who had commenced in their roles prior to 2018 had no first aid/basic life-saving skills and no ability/training in undertaking cardiopulmonary resuscitation ('CPR').”

“The Governor of the prison told the court that no refresher CPR training had been provided to prison staff since 2023 notwithstanding the 5 deaths of prisoners by ligature suspension that have occurred since.”

“obscuring cell door observation panels on the inside by prisoners was not permitted practice and was to be challenged and remedied”

“blocked observation panels were not consistently challenged or cleared, and that visual welfare checks were therefore not always effective”

“Evidence was heard that the majority of those prison officers who had commenced in their roles prior to 2018 had no first aid/basic life-saving skills and no ability/training in undertaking cardiopulmonary resuscitation ('CPR').”

“No ongoing training had been provided to prison officers since initial training on basic life support or first aid, meaning that officers confronted with discovery of a ligature situation were unable to provide immediate and basic life support due to a lack of confidence and unfamiliarity of what to do”

“Evidence was heard that the majority of those prison officers who had commenced in their roles prior to 2018 had no first aid/basic life-saving skills and no ability/training in undertaking cardiopulmonary resuscitation ('CPR').”

“After prison officers and prison staff carry out their induction training which covers basic first aid training including the delivery of cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), there is no further mandatory refresher training on first aid or CPR.”

“The evidence revealed that despite clear instruction to officers, by way of Notices to Staff from senior management at the prison, to the effect that obscuring cell door observation panels on the inside by prisoners was not permitted practice and was to be challenged and remedied, routine practice by prison officers meant observation panels were permitted to be obscured, without challenge or sanction.”

“Evidence was heard that there is a regular practice of prisoner's covering their observation panels in their cell doors at HMP Garth. Despite Governor's Orders and staff instructions being in place requiring staff to take steps to ensure any inundation is removed, this was not being adhered to.”