Further improvement needed in police custody healthcare for detainees

A joint custody inspection in May 2024 by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland and Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) in the Argyll and West Dunbartonshire region, focusing primarily on the custody centres in Clydebank and Oban.

During the inspection, HIS inspectors identified a key area of concern which related to the absence of clinical governance and oversight structures for healthcare provision within Oban police custody centre.

HIS communicated these concerns to the Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), which has responsibility for healthcare provision within the police custody centre in Oban.

In a report published in October 2024, Argyll and Bute HSCP were asked to undertake a review of the issues identified and provide a formal update within two weeks of the date of the inspection.

The HSCP update was subsequently submitted and reviewed by inspectors, who carried out a progress inspection of the Oban police custody centre in March this year.

They found while some improvements had been made to address previous recommendations, the follow-up visit resulted in additional recommendations being made.

The five new recommendations – made in the ‘Custody Progress Inspection report: Argyll and Dunbartonshire’ published today – included that Argyll and Bute HSCP should establish a monitoring framework to collect data on patient outcomes in police custody, and to ensure that patients’ needs are met.

Two of the progress report recommendations related to the storage of detainee health records and patient confidentiality.

The remaining two related to checks being carried out and recorded regarding emergency equipment and medications, and infection control precautions.

HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland, Craig Naylor, said: “Inspectors were clear that the purpose of the progress inspection visit was to focus on the healthcare improvement action plan, with an emphasis on governance arrangements, as well as consideration being given to some of the other healthcare related recommendations made in our initial report.”

HMICS and HIS inspectors will continue to monitor progress against the new recommendations made.