Paul Blythe’s death leads to Pentonville Prison procedures review
Man died weeks after telling officers that he had vomited blood
Published: 5th May, 2011
by JOSIE HINTON
MEDICAL procedures at Pentonville Prison have been reviewed following the death of a vulnerable inmate who complained to staff he was vomiting blood in the weeks before he died.
An inquest heard yesterday (Wednesday) how Paul Blythe, of North Road, Highgate, was on remand at the prison in May last year when he began complaining to officers of ill-health.
The 44-year-old, who had been accused of attacking his mother, had battled drug and alcohol addiction for many years and had complex medical problems including liver disease, asthma and hepatitis C.
He died at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead on July 14 last year after suffering an internal bleeding, three weeks after collapsing suddenly in the prison.
A post-mortem examination found that his death was caused by oesophageal haemorrhage, due to liver cirrhosis caused by alcohol abuse and hepatitis C.
But during the inquest at St Pancras Coroner’s Court, questions were raised over Mr Blythe’s medical care at Pentonville after it was revealed he had complained he was vomiting or coughing up blood six days before his collapse.
And the court heard Mr Blythe did not undergo a medical assessment – usually carried out within 48 hours – until two weeks after he arrived at the prison.
Jurors were told he was given a specimen pot to give doctors a sample but was unable to provide any blood.
Jonathan Warren, director of nursing for east London, who was asked to review the medical treatment given to Mr Blythe, said there were some errors in documentation and observation, but that they did not contribute to Mr Blythe's death.
He told the court: “I don’t think the failures were directly linked to the death in terms of causation. I don’t see any evidence of significant change in his condition [before his rapid deterioration] to suggest anything necessarily should have been done.”
An internal review was carried out by the prison following the death.
Tony Madden, Pentonville’s head of healthcare, said recommendations put forward by the prison ombudsman had been implemented.
He added: “There were issues regarding gathering of information and with our systems of taking basic observations. They are the two areas that we thought immediately we needed to pay some attention to.”
Recommendations brought in since Mr Blythe’s death include a monthly audit of medical checks for new inmates to make sure they are carried out within 48 hours.
Other changes include staff seeking previous medical history at the earliest possible opportunity, using electronic rather than paper records and more rigorous observations of prisoners.
Jo Towner, Mr Blythe’s sister, said: “My brother was a very poorly man. He had periods where he was very physically frail.”
Coroner Dr Andrew Reid said there was no evidence to suggest Mr Blythe had suffered any neglect.
The inquest jury will consider a verdict today (Thursday).