During an assessment under our new approach
HMP Bullingdon is a men’s reception and resettlement prison in Oxfordshire, with an operational capacity of 865.
We accompanied His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) on their independent review of progress to conduct a focused inspection of healthcare services at HMP Bullingdon from the 13 to 15 April 2026. You can view this report here:
https://hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmipris_reports/hmp-bullingdon-2/
At our last joint inspection with HMIP in August2025, we identified concerns with reception screening processes, the management of patients’ healthcare applications and the quality of care provided on the inpatient unit. We also found that leaders had taken inadequate action to address some long-standing issues affecting patient care. We requested an action plan from the provider in relation to safe care and treatment, and good governance.
The purpose of this inspection was to determine if the provider was meeting the legal requirements and patients were receiving safe and well-led care and treatment. During the inspection, we spoke with the provider’s head of healthcare, the prison’s head of healthcare delivery, and a range of staff including nurses, paramedics, healthcare assistants and pharmacy technicians. We observed medicines being dispensed and reviewed the provider's systems and procedures.
We found evidence of improvement since our previous inspection. Leadership changes had resulted in improved oversight, stronger partnership working with the prison, and early positive outcomes for patients. Progress had been most evident since the appointment of a new head of healthcare in December 2025.
Although sufficient action had been taken to meet the breaches of regulation identified at our previous inspection, the provider should make further improvements to ensure that food and fluid monitoring is better monitored, cleanliness and infection control measures are strengthened, and improvements are embedded and sustained over the longer term.