Inquest Reports on Suicide in Serco-run Prison

Dec. 17, 2014 - PRLog -- PRESS RELEASE

15 December 2014

Inquest Reports on Suicide in Serco-run Prison

On 11th December 2014, the inquest into the death of Edvinas Sermuksnis returned a conclusion of suicide by hanging at HMP Dovegate. The jury considered that Ed’s death had been contributed to by a catalogue of failings by the prison’s healthcare, then provided by Serco Health.

The prison had failed to obtain Ed’s medical notes and thus failed to identify his poor mental health. Causative factors in his death included that he never saw a prison GP, he was not given a mental health review, he was not provided with medication, and was not afforded secondary health screenings. The prison has since accepted a comprehensive range of recommendations from the Ombudsman. Serco Health are no longer responsible for healthcare services at HMP Dovegate.

Sam Jacobs and Melina Padron acted for Ed’s family, instructed by Nathan J Roughton of Public Interest Lawyers.

For more information please contact Public Interest Lawyers on 0121 515 5069.