Diabetes training in prisons 'not necessary'

Colin Lovett was jailed at HMP The Verne in Dorset when he died in 2022

Prison staff will not be given further training about diabetes despite a coroner's concerns that a lack of knowledge contributed to an inmate's suicide.

Colin Lovett, 53, who was insulin-dependent and had Type 1 diabetes, was found unresponsive at HMP The Verne in Portland, Dorset, in October 2022.

Dorset coroner Rachael Griffin said a lack of awareness among general prison staff of diabetes and hypoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic attacks could lead to future deaths.

But HM Prison and Probation Service's director general of operations told Mrs Griffin that it was not "necessary or appropriate" for all operational prison staff to take specific training.

Michelle Jarman-Howe said there were "many other topics that are of higher priority and/or have more general application" than caring for diabetes and that "training time is limited".

If there is any need for staff to have training for diabetes or another condition in an individual prison, "they are able to raise this with the governor and consideration can then be given to developing local awareness sessions", she added.

A jury, which concluded Lovett died by suicide, was told his medical causes of death were an insulin overdose and hypertensive and ischaemic heart disease.

It found that he had access to insulin in his cell and that "possibly contributed more than minimally to his death".

It added that the "inadequacy of risk management and support at HMP The Verne possibly contributed more than minimally to his death".