Updated 9 February 2018
HMP Grendon and HMP Spring Hill are jointly managed neighbouring prisons based on the same site just outside the village of Grendon Underwood in Buckinghamshire. HMP Grendon is a Category B/C therapeutic community prison that holds around 240 men in closed conditions. HMP Spring Hill is a category D open prison holding around 335 men who are nearing the end of their sentences and preparing for release.
Care UK Health & Rehabilitation Services Limited provides a range of healthcare services to prisoners in both prisons, comparable to those found in the wider community, including primary care nursing, GP, substance misuse prescribing services and primary care mental health services. The location is registered to provide the regulated activities: Treatment of disease, disorder or injury, and Diagnostic and screening procedures. Other services, including dental services are provided under contractual agreements. As the lead provider Care UK is responsible for overseeing all services.
CQC inspected this location with Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons between 15 and 18 May, 2017, as part of the joint inspection of HMP Grendon. We found evidence that fundamental standards were not being met and a Requirement Notice was issued in relation to Regulation 17, Good Governance, of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, related to dental provision at the location. We subsequently asked Care UK Health & Rehabilitation Services Limited to make improvements regarding this breach.
We checked this element of governance, and the relevant recommendation made by HMIP and CQC in its joint report, as part of this focused inspection. We found that the provider had addressed the previous breach of regulations identified.