An inquest jury has concluded that neglect contributed to the death of a woman at Eastwood Park Prison in Gloucestershire. Michaela Sweeting, 38, from Totterdown, Bristol, was found unresponsive in her cell on 2 June 2016, eight days after being arrested and charged with manslaughter.
The inquest at Avon Coroner's Court heard that Sweeting had been prescribed methadone, a heroin substitute. Despite prison staff noting she appeared over-sedated, she was given more of the drug. Staff did not call a doctor and failed to carry out adequate checks on her throughout the night.
The jury found a series of 'gross failures' and 'woefully inadequate care' led to her death. At 22:14 on 1 June, Sweeting was vomiting and seen by a nurse in her cell. Inadequate clinical observations were carried out overnight, and at 07:00 on 2 June she was found unresponsive with vomit around her mouth.
Coroner Maria Voisin has ordered a Preventing Future Deaths Report. Sweeting's mother, Tina Sweeting, said: 'They failed her.' Bristol Community Health, which manages healthcare at the prison, apologised and said it had improved handover processes since the incident.
