Prison criticised for restraining 'comatose' man

Prison staff have been criticised for restraining a 74-year-old inmate as he lay "comatose" after suffering a brain haemorrhage.

Malcolm MacDougal was serving a life sentence at HMP Full Sutton in East Yorkshire when he was taken ill on 30 September 2024 after taking synthetic cannabis. He subsequently died.

A Prisons and Probation Ombudsman report said it took staff 16 minutes to call an ambulance and the use of restraints "calls into question staff attitudes to affording dignity to those in a critical condition and reflects poorly on the prison".

In a statement, the Prison Service said it had improved its emergency procedures and strengthened guidance on the use of restraints.

MacDougal was sentenced to life imprisonment for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in July 1982.

He had spent time in several prisons and had been at HMP Full Sutton since December 2007.

According to the report, MacDougal was on a care plan to manage his blood pressure and also suffered from irregular heartbeat, musculoskeletal disorders, depression and personality disorder.

He also had a longstanding history of cannabis and alcohol misuse, the report said.

On 30 September 2024, MacDougal was found by a prison officer "lying on the floor in an unusual position" but was believed to be sleeping.

It was only after a supervisor intervened that a medical emergency was raised and staff called an ambulance.

The report noted the prisoner was escorted to hospital by guards using a "long chain with a handcuff at each end", which was only taken off during a CT scan.

MacDougal was pronounced dead on the same day when doctors removed him from a ventilator.

Staff told the ombudsman that use of the escort chain had been authorised because of MacDougal's history with drugs and alcohol.

They said prisoners could quickly recover from the use of synthetic cannabinoids and become violent.

However, the ombudsman said restraining a comatose man "reflects poorly" on the prison and it remained concerned staff did not understand "the rationale for completing risk assessments".

It recommended staff take decisions based on a prisoner's medical condition and the actual risk they present at the time.

It also recommended restraints are not used during serious or invasive treatment, unless there are exceptional reasons.

The ombudsman also raised concerns about the length of time that it staff to determine MacDougal was unconscious and not sleeping.

The report recommended: "The Governor should ensure that staff call a medical emergency code without delay if a prisoner remains unresponsive after attempts to rouse them."

The report highlighted previous concerns about poor risk assessments and the inappropriate use of restraints during incidents at HMP Full Sutton.

Rapist David Howarth died of multiple organ and heart failure, with pneumonia and empyema, on 30 December 2023.

A report into his death found staff had used restraints "disproportionately" on two separate occasions without due consideration of his age and health conditions.

The ombudsman raised similar concerns about the use of restraints on child killer Colin Evans, who died of bronchopneumonia, heart and kidney disease in January 2024.

In its statement, the Prison Service said: "We accepted the ombudsman's recommendations in full.

"Since September 2024, HMP Full Sutton has improved its emergency response procedures, strengthened guidance on the use of restraints and reinforced support for prisoners with substance misuse issues."

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