The Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) has publicly declared its intention to pull out of a healthcare contract dedicated to serving prison inmates. The Trust, currently assigned to oversee healthcare in seven prisons and an immigration centre across the East Midlands, made this bold move in order to prioritise improvements in other sectors following a scathing review from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Last year, the CQC issued a Section 48 review criticising the NHFT for a series of errors and misjudgments in the care of Valdo Calocane, a paranoid schizophrenic who tragically stabbed three people in Nottingham in June 2023. With recruitment challenges and the need to focus on the improvements as per the CQC’s recommendations, the Trust believes a specialist provider may be better equipped to enhance the healthcare in the offender setting. The Trust’s Chief Operating Officer, Becky Sutton, confirmed that the NHFT is working closely with NHS England and prison services to ensure a seamless transition of services when a new provider is identified. It’s important to note, the decision will not impact Rampton Hospital in Nottinghamshire, where the Trust is in charge of the secure mental health unit for prisoners.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.
