On 15 March 2013 a jury sitting at Doncaster Coroners Court found that defective care and system failure in prison healthcare at HMP Moorlands contributed to the death of Mr Robert Proctor in December 2008.
At the time medical care was contracted out to Local Care Direct and SERCO and evidence was heard in particular about the negative effect on healthcare provision of such arrangements with criticism of Local Care Direct. The jury returned the following narrative verdict:
"Mr Proctor had long standing liver disease and during November 2008, whilst a prisoner at HMP Moorland, he contracted a urinary tract infection. This urinary tract infection was proven present in Mr Proctor's system on 20th November 2008, and was a contributory factor in his ultimate liver failure. His death was heavily contributed to by a lack of diagnosis and treatment by the general healthcare provision at HMP Moorlands. There was systematic failure throughout the prison healthcare system, due to lack of resource, time, continuity of care, and the use of a paper based system. Mr Proctor's healthcare was treated appropriately at Doncaster Royal Infirmary"
Mr Proctor's family was represented by Kirsten Heaven of the Garden Court Chambers Inquest Team and Fiona Borrill of Lester Morrill Solicitors.
