During an assessment under our new approach
HMP Durham is a category B reception prison located in Durham that can hold up to 985 male prisoners.
We carried out an announced focused inspection of healthcare services provided by Spectrum Community Health C.I.C (Spectrum) on 18-19 June 2025.
This inspection was prompted in part by a notification of an incident following the hospitalisation of a patient. This incident is subject to further investigation by CQC as to whether any regulatory action should be taken. As a result, this inspection did not examine the circumstances of the incident.
However, the information shared with CQC about the incident indicated potential concerns about the management of a deteriorating patient. This inspection examined those risks.
We carried out this inspection to determine if the healthcare services provided by Spectrum were meeting the legal requirements and regulations under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and that patients were receiving safe care and treatment.
Overall, we looked at 9 quality statements and found that not all regulations had been met.
We found patients received comprehensive health screening during their early days in custody delivered by a competent multidisciplinary staff team. Staff, including GPs, received appropriate training and supervision. Oversight and delivery of GP induction was good. Incident management was effective demonstrated through daily reviews, escalation and appropriate investigation.
The management of patients with complex care needs was effective; staff had developed processes to monitor and manage patient risk with opportunities for multidisciplinary review. Medicines’ management was good, delivered through a well-resourced and skilled team.
However, we found a new breach of good governance relating to the enhanced primary care unit (EPCU) and administration functions.
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.
We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.