This site is intended for health professionals only


Concerns over health centre at Lockerbie-bomber prison

by
26 August 2009

Share this article

A report has accused the health centre in the prison where the Lockerbie bomber was held as “not fit for purpose”.

Former prisons inspector Andrew McLellan visited Greenock prison in Glasgow before he stood down earlier this year and compiled a report on his findings.

It said: “The health centre is not fit for purpose but care delivery itself is satisfactory.

“It is very cramped and a lack of appropriate facilities has meant that some visiting specialists have to see prisoners in the hall (when a room is unavailable) or the agents’ visits area.”

According to the Scottish Prison Service, Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, who was released on compassionate grounds, would have received some treatment for his terminal cancer in the jail’s health centre.

However, it added that his specialist needs would have been met in hospital.

The report also claims that nurse-led clinics have been cancelled because no space is available and, although the health centre is clean and tidy, noise, interruptions to consultations, privacy, confidentiality and infection control were all a problem.

In the report, Mr McLellan called for the health centre to be “made fit for purpose.”

Copyright © Press Association 2009

Scottish Prison Service