HMP Altcourse

Updated 25 January 2023

Located in Liverpool, HMP Altcourse is a category B local prison serving courts in the Merseyside and Cheshire regions. HMP Altcourse is a privately run prison; operated by G4S and accommodates approximately 1150 adult male prisoners.

Health services at HMP Altcourse are commissioned by NHS England & Improvement. The contract for the provision of healthcare services is held by G4S. G4S is registered with CQC to provide the regulated activities of diagnostic and screening procedures and treatment of disease, disorder or injury.

Our previous comprehensive inspection was conducted jointly with HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) in November 2021 and published on the HMIP website on 18 February 2022.

Report on an unannounced inspection of HMP Altcourse by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons 1-2 and 8-12 November 2021 (justiceinspectorates.gov.uk)

We found breaches of Regulation 12, Safe Care and Treatment and Regulation 18, Staffing.

Updated 25 January 2023

We carried out an announced focused inspection of healthcare services provided by G4S Health Services (UK) Limited (G4S) at HMP Altcourse to follow up on the requirement notice issued after our last inspection in November 2021. At the last inspection, we found the quality of healthcare provided by G4S at this location required improvement. We issued a requirement notice in relation to Regulation 12, Safe Care and Treatment and Regulation 18, Staffing.

The purpose of this focused inspection was to determine if the healthcare services provided by G4S were meeting the legal requirements and regulations of the requirement notice; under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and that patients were receiving safe care and treatment.

At this inspection we found the required improvements had been made and the provider was meeting the regulations.

We do not currently rate services provided in prisons. We highlight good practice and issues that service providers need to improve and take regulatory action as necessary.

At this inspection we found:

• The service provided safe care. The service had enough nursing and support staff to keep patients safe. Staff had completed and kept up to date with most of their mandatory training. The service had reduced its vacancy rates.
• Staff followed systems and processes to prescribe and administer medicines safely. Staff completed medicines records accurately and kept them up to date.
• Staff took part in clinical audits to improve patient safety and outcomes. Managers used results from audits to make improvements.
• Managers supported staff through regular, constructive appraisals of their work and clinical supervision.
• Patients did not experience delays in receiving a mental health assessment.
• Governance processes operated effectively at team level and performance and risk were adequately managed.

However;

• Managers did not analyse data sufficiently in relation to the temporary workforce; this meant the provider and managers did not have clear oversight of the demands of the primary care and primary care mental health service.

The areas where the provider SHOULD make improvements:

• Managers should ensure staff continue to complete all required mandatory training.
• Managers should ensure all in possession medicine risk assessments are reviewed in line with the provider’s policy.
• Managers should consider how they record and analyse data in relation to the temporary workforce; to inform service delivery and maintain oversight.