The prison was told it needed to make improvements last year
Inspectors have said the health services at a Cambridgeshire prison have improved after concerns were raised last year. In October 2024, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) carried out a joint inspection with His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) at HMP Peterborough.
Healthcare services at the prison are overseen by the Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT). CQC and HMIP found regulation breaches relating to safe care and treatment, and good governance at the prison. As a result, an action plan was put in place to address concerns about the substance misuse use service and mental health services.
Following a two-day assessment on November 10 and 11 of this year, CQC has said the service has made improvements and is “no longer in breach of regulations”. In its well led assessment, CQC found:
- The frequency of observations for patients detoxing from alcohol and drugs now aligned with the provider’s policy and national guidance
- An improved referral and triage system allowed more effective and timely oversight of patients awaiting a mental health assessment
- Processes for identifying and following up on missed medicines had improved, and clinical records accurately documented the administration of a specific medicine
- Governance arrangements had been strengthened, allowing managers to better identify gaps in service provision and explore opportunities for improvement and development.
A NHFT spokesperson said they were “pleased” with the improvements. They added: “As a Trust we are dedicated to developing safe, quality services.
“We are pleased that the CQC has recognised the improvements we have made to our healthcare service at HMP Peterborough in its latest inspection report. Our team have worked incredibly hard to improve our processes, governance and care and they deserve huge credit for ensuring the service is now meeting regulations across all five of the CQC’s key inspection areas: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.”
An HMP Peterborough spokesperson said: “We welcome the CQC’s positive report, which recognises the outstanding work of the Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation at the prison. Working alongside our dedicated staff, this partnership plays a vital role in ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of all prisoners.”
HMP Peterborough is a category B prison and is the only prison in England that holds both female and male prisoners, who are kept separate at all times. It accommodates up to 360 female prisoners and up to 944 male prisoners.
