HMP Manchester inmate lay dying with Covid as prison staff refused to tell mum about his condition

Staff at a Manchester prison decided not to tell the mum of an inmate who was dying in hospital with Covid about his illness when she rang to speak to him, a shocking report has found.

James Brennan, a prisoner at HMP Manchester, died on 1 March 2021 after contracting the novel coronavirus during a six-month sentence for breaching a sexual offences order.

An investigation into the 51-year-old’s death was launched by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) and concerns have been raised that no one spotted signs he was deteriorating.

The subsequent report found that Brennan, who was initially jailed for six years for sex offences and recalled after breaching his licence conditions, did not receive adequate monitoring after contracting the virus and that details of his illness were withheld from his mum.

What happened to James Brennan at HMP Manchester?

The report said that as an ‘extremely vulnerable’ inmate, Brennan had agreed to shield during the first and second wave of the virus. However, by the third national lockdown, in January 2021, he had changed his mind.

“He said that he did not want to shield, as he was bored in isolation and wanted to work,” the PPO report said.  “Although the risks to his health were explained, he insisted and signed a disclaimer the same day.”

By 18 February 2021, just eight days after receiving the Covid vaccine, Brennan tested positive for the virus during an outbreak on his ward.

Within four days, by 22 February, he was showing signs of deterioration, however these were not immediately picked up by staff.

“A nurse recorded that his blood oxygen saturation level (92%) was within the normal range for a patient with COPD,” the report added. “She gave him advice and noted that she would ask the prison GP if any treatment was needed.

“The outcome was not recorded.

“On 23 February, Mr Brennan vomited blood and was finding it difficult to breathe. Two nurses checked him and administered oxygen to try and stabilise his very low oxygen saturation level. They consulted the prison GP, who provisionally diagnosed COVID-19 and sent him to hospital.”

What happened around informing his family about his illness?

After sending Brennan for treatment, staff conducted a risk assessment and concluded that his family ‘should not be informed’ of his illness.

Later the same day (23 February 2021), Brennan’s condition deteriorated and he was taken to intensive care (ICU). Meanwhile, his mum called the prison and enquired about her son’s whereabouts as he had missed one of their daily phone calls.

The ombudsman discovered that at this stage, the prison’s family liaison officer was ‘instructed not to disclose that Brennan was in hospital’.

Instead, Brennan’s mum was told that he was not able to speak to her due to ‘treatment’.

The report added: “When she asked if her son was in hospital, he was non-committal but agreed to update her the next day. She telephoned a hospital where he had previously been an inpatient and hospital staff told her he was there.”

The following day, 24 February, Brennan’s mum called the prison again to find out about his condition and was informed that her son had been put into a medically induced coma.

He died a week later on 1 March having never regained consciousness.

What did inquiries into how the prison handled his death find?

A clinical review into Brennan’s death found that he was not monitored following his Covid diagnosis on February 18 and signs of deterioration ‘were not recognised’ as a result.

Despite concerns over a lack of communication in the prison, the investigation found that overall HMP Manchester implemented enough measures to protect against the spread of Covid.

There were, however, some concerns raised over mixed reports as to whether Brennan was on the shielding list or not.

As a result of the review, the PPO has recommended that Covid patients are reviewed daily and provided with a pulse oximeter.

Further recommendations have been made to the prison governor stating that a prisoner’s next of kin must be informed ‘immediately’ if they become seriously ill and that ‘full and accurate’ details should be given unless there are justifiable grounds.

What did the report say about its findings surrounding Brennan’s death?

The report concluded: “We are particularly concerned that the prison withheld, without any recorded reason, the information that Mr Brennan had been admitted to hospital, when his mother had twice called the prison helpline and had asked the family liaison officer outright.

“It was clear that Mr Brennan was acutely unwell, or in a life-threatening condition, as when he arrived at the hospital on 23 February, he went directly from assessment to the ICU.

“It was particularly incongruous to have maintained the line when the prison had already recognised the severity of Mr Brennan’s illness by early removal of his restraints.

“We acknowledge that the family liaison officer was acting on the direction of senior staff and was very supportive after Mr Brennan’s death.

“Our concerns are therefore about the rationale and decisions taken by prison managers. We consider it unacceptable that Mr Brennan’s mother had to press the prison for information. We are concerned that the delay in providing this information possibly deprived her of contact with her son before he was sedated.”

The Ministry of Justice has been contacted for comment.