Meghan Curran represented the family of SP at the inquest into his death.  SP, who was in his 70s, died at HMP Hewell following a short period of food refusal. He had been charged with the murder of his wife.

The jury concluded that sufficient steps had not been taken in SP’s psychiatric care, reflecting the fact that SP had not undergone a psychiatric assessment whilst at HMP Hewell, and in particular once food refusal had commenced. They also concluded that there had been a failure to assess his capacity, finding that this should have taken place urgently once food refusal had commenced.

The Coroner issued a PFD addressing a range of matters arising from the inquest. This included the lack of awareness amongst healthcare staff of the food refusal policy that resulted in a failure to consider hospital transfers for prisoners severely weakened by weight loss; failure to expedite a full medical assessment, including psychiatric assessment; and a failure to recognise that a mental capacity assessment was required as soon as food refusal began.

Coverage of the inquest can be found at the BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy8lzxqnlqjo

Meghan was instructed by Tessa Hutchinson of Duncan Lewis Solicitors Ltd.