HMP Grendon & Springhill

On this page

• Overview
• Shared direction and culture
• Capable, compassionate and inclusive leaders
• Freedom to speak up
• Workforce equality, diversity and inclusion
• Governance, management and sustainability
• Partnerships and communities
• Learning, improvement and innovation

We inspected 1 quality statement in this key question and found that sufficient improvements had been made. We found PPG had implemented effective measures to address the medicines’ management concerns we had identified during our previous inspection. Staffing levels had improved, operating procedures had been reviewed, patients’ medicines reviews had increased and access to the pharmacy had been restricted to ensure better security.

Find out what we look at when we assess this area in our information about our new Single assessment framework.

The judgement for Shared direction and culture is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.

The judgement for Capable, compassionate and inclusive leaders is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.

The judgement for Freedom to speak up is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.

The judgement for Workforce equality, diversity and inclusion is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.

At our previous inspection in April 2024, we identified several concerns in the management of patients’ medicines. During this inspection we noted the following improvements:

• Pharmacy staffing levels had improved with the appointment of a full-time pharmacy technician in July 2024 and there were now robust procedures in place to ensure that medicines were ordered, received and stock-controlled, including emergency medicines and medicines to treat minor ailments.
• Standard operating procedure (SOPs) for the pharmacy service had been reviewed and there was a comprehensive suite of SOPs that reflected current processes. The introduction of a change management process enabled the SOPs to reflect local procedures at different PPG sites.
• At our previous inspection, we identified shortfalls with the management of medicines for minor ailments and out-of-hours provision for critical medicines, such as antibiotics. On this inspection, we found medicines were appropriately labelled, and their use was audited. All medicines supplied were recorded within the patient’s electronic record.
• Spot checks to monitor patients’ compliance with in-possession medicines had resumed, and plans were in place to increase these in the coming months. Staff shared an example where a risk-based spot check had led to appropriate actions being taken and the patient being followed up by the prison’s mental health team.
• The percentage of patients on multiple medicines who had received a medication review in the previous 12 months had increased from 57% at our previous inspection, to 84%. At the time of our inspection, these were carried out remotely, but the regional pharmacist told us he would be conducting these reviews face to face with patients from January 2025.
• Access to the controlled drugs cupboard had become more secure with it now being restricted to authorised staff only. Staff access was monitored closely and there was a process in place to change the medication key safe codes every few months.
• Medicines management meetings took place every 2 months. However, we found that they were not always quorate and key staff did not always attend. We had raised this issue on our previous inspection. The provider was aware of this continued shortfall, and it remained on the risk register.

The judgement for Partnerships and communities is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.

The judgement for Learning, improvement and innovation is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.