Background to this inspection
Updated
3 May 2023
Background to HMP Maidstone
HMP Maidstone is a Category C prison located in Maidstone, Kent. It is operated by HM Prison Service and accommodates approximately 600 adult male foreign national prisoners.
Health services at HMP Maidstone are commissioned by NHSE. The contract for the provision of healthcare services is held by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust. Oxleas is registered with CQC to provide the regulated activities of treatment of disease, disorder or injury and diagnostic and screening procedures.
Our previous comprehensive inspection was conducted jointly with HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) in October 2022 and published on the HMIP website on 23 January 2023.
Report on an unannounced inspection of HMP Maidstone by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons 3-14 October 2022 (justiceinspectorates.gov.uk)
Updated
3 May 2023
We carried out an announced focused inspection of healthcare services provided by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust at HMP Maidstone to follow up on the Requirement Notice issued after our last inspection in October 2022. At the last inspection, we found the quality of healthcare provided by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust at this location required improvement. We issued a Requirement Notice in relation to Regulation 12, Safe Care and Treatment and Regulation 17, Good Governance.
The purpose of this focused inspection was to determine if the healthcare services provided by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust were meeting the legal requirements and regulations of the Requirement Notice under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and that patients were receiving safe care and treatment.
At this inspection we found the required improvements had been made and the provider was meeting the regulations.
We do not currently rate services provided in prisons. We highlight good practice and issues that service providers need to improve and take regulatory action as necessary.
At this inspection we found:
- The service provided safe care. Staff assessed patient needs accurately, and effectively managed referrals to secondary care services.
- Staff followed systems and processes to record, store and administer medicines safely. Oversight from pharmacy leaders had improved.
- Staff used translation services to meet the needs of patients.
- Governance processes operated effectively at team level and performance and risk were adequately managed.