Checks by prison officers revealed 'nothing untoward'
Details of a tragic event are emerging from the UK today, after a
damning report was published about the death of baby born to teenager in prison cell.
Prisons and Probation ombudsman Sue McAllister explained: “Ms A gave birth alone in her cell overnight without medical assistance."
The 18-year-old was in custody in what is the largest women’s prison in Europe, for a robbery charge. She is said to have had “a troubled and traumatic childhood” and was “sad, angry and scared” when told her baby would be taken away from her as soon as it was born.
The report published by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman made a number of criticisms about the incident surrounding a vulnerable teenager at HMP Bronzefield in Ashford, calling it "a catalogue of failures" including the following:
- There was confusion about her due date.
- She had informed a prison nurse she would kill herself if the baby was taken away from her — this information was not shared.
- She was on 'extended observation', which meant she should have been checked regularly but this did not happen.
- It's reported that she rang the bell twice that day. One call was connected then immediately disconnected. She did not press the bell again.
- Checks by prison officers at 9.27pm and 4.19am revealed “nothing untoward”.
- It was left to two prisoners to alert staff to the fact that there was blood in her cell at 8.21am on 27 September.
- A pathologist was unable to determine whether or not the baby was born alive.
In short, Sue McAllister said: "This should never have happened. Overall, the healthcare offered to Ms A in Bronzefield was not equivalent to that she could have expected in the community.”
The report has unsurprisingly triggered calls from the public and lobbying groups to put an end to the imprisonment of pregnant people.
Naomi Delap, the director of Birth Companions, a charity that specialises in the needs and experiences of pregnant women and mothers in prison said:
“This devastating report on the death of Baby A, and the harrowing accounts of Louise Powell who lost her own baby in HMP Styal just nine months later, add to the already considerable evidence that prisons are not safe for pregnant women and their babies, nor will they ever be.”
Vicky Robinson, director of HMP Bronzefield said:
“This was tragic and extremely sad. We are deeply sorry that this happened and our thoughts throughout have been with the family. In the two years which have passed, we have cooperated fully with the PPO investigation.”
Elaine Macdonald of Tuckers Solicitors, who represents Ms A said:
“The failings identified in this report are truly shocking. A vulnerable young woman giving birth alone in a prison cell should never have happened, and the number of significant concerns raised about her treatment while in custody need to be urgently and fully examined.”
The deputy prime minister and justice secretary, Dominic Raab said:
“These events are harrowing, unacceptable and should never happen to any woman or child. We have already implemented the recommendation in the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman’s report. We have put in place important improvements to the care received by women in custody, and across government we must make sure that expectant mothers in prison get the same support as those in the community.”
