Trust failed for months to give vital medication to vulnerable inmate

A troubled NHS trust failed for months to give vital medication to a prison inmate who had a long-standing diagnosis of HIV, an inquest has found.

A jury at Essex Coroner’s Court concluded that a series of failures and neglect by Essex Partnership University Trust (EPUT) contributed to the death of Thokozani Shiri in April 2019.

The 21-year-old spent two spells as a prisoner at HMP Chelmsford, where EPUT provided some services at the time.

He was considered vulnerable due to a long-standing diagnosis of HIV for which he was receiving treatment before he went to prison, and the trust was aware he had HIV throughout both stays, the inquest heard.

The inquest jury identified that five separate failings had “probably caused” Mr Shiri’s death. These included: a failure to provide antiretroviral medication to Mr Shiri during both periods of imprisonment; a failure to refer him to an HIV clinic; the absence of an appropriate care plan and engagement with a multidisciplinary team; and inadequate management of records.

Each failing on behalf of the trust was considered by the jury to have amounted to neglect.

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Source: HSJ, 9 June 2022