Greater 'urgency' in mental-health care needed at HMP Leeds after prisoner took own life days after arriving
A prison watchdog has said “greater urgency” is required in mental-health referrals after a prisoner took his own life at HMP Leeds just days after his arrival.
Alexander Muzyczka’s death at the Armley jail was ruled as self inflicted, and he is the 17th to have died in such circumstances in three years.
The Prison and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) said the number of fatalities is “recognised as a significant concern” and comes just months after a report was published highlighting the worrying suicide rate and illicit drug use in the establishment.
Mr Muzyczka had been at HMP Leeds for just nine days when he took his own life in February of last year.
The 38-year-old from the Sheffield area had been remanded at the prison after being charged with an offence of sending a threatening communication. It was his first time in prison.
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The report into his death said that he had refused to engage with mental-health professionals while in the jail and he believed they had no legal authority to detain him.
The PPO concluded: “There was no particular reason for staff to have considered him a risk to himself.”
However, it was added that the clinical reviewer “found that Mr Muzyczka’s mental health should have been assessed with more urgency and a clear plan made for how to best care for him, given his limited engagement”.
The PPO added: “The head of healthcare at HMP Leeds and mental-health lead should ensure that the referral process to the mental-health team is clear and defines what is meant by an urgent referral.
“The head of healthcare should ensure that a detailed account of multi-agency meetings is made in a prisoner’s medical record detailing a clear action plan.”
Two days before his death Mr Muzyczka had repeatedly pressed his cell buzzer asking to be released.
The next day he called staff using his buzzer again and stated he planned to settle down and get on with his time at Leeds. Staff had no concerns about him.
His body was found in his cell at around 5.30am on February 7.
His observation panel on his cell door had been covered over and the officer did not flag this up immediately or wait for a response from Mr Muzyczka.
Instead, they went to the next few cells before returning and opening the door to find Mr Muzyczka’s body.
The PPO said this five-minute delay was “unacceptable”.