Three prisoners taken to hospital after ‘suspected medication misuse’ at HMP Kilmarnock
Three males have been taken to hospital following suspected medication misuse at a Scots jail.
An investigation is beneath approach after the prisoners, based mostly at HMP Kilmarnock in East Ayrshire, had been admitted to hospital on Wednesday and Thursday.
A spokesperson for jail operators Serco mentioned: “We can confirm that three prisoners from HMP Kilmarnock have been taken to hospital.
“We are in shut contact with the hospital to watch their situation.”
NHS Ayrshire and Arran confirmed it was working with the jail healthcare and custody employees to analyze the circumstances surrounding the incidents.
Joanne Edwards, director of acute providers, mentioned: “We are aware of a small number of prisoners who have been admitted to University Hospital Crosshouse following suspected drug misuse.
“Due to affected person confidentiality, it might be inappropriate to remark additional.”
Last month it was revealed that the number of drones caught flying into Scottish prisons had increased from two in 2018 to 9 within the first three months of this yr alone.
The remote-controlled plane are used to smuggle the likes of medication and telephones into jails.
The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) mentioned it was utilizing “all technological and intelligence tools available” to sort out the issue.
Read extra:
Surge in number of drones caught flying into Scottish prisons after smuggling crackdown
Gang sentenced for using drones to drop drugs in prisons
Prisoners getting drugs and phones from drones
A crackdown on smuggling through jail letters is believed to be one of many causes behind the latest rise in drone use.
A coverage has allowed employees to photocopy letters addressed to prisoners, so inmates obtain copies somewhat than originals.
The measure was put in place to cease medication – particularly, benzodiazepines like Etizolam – from coming into the property by being soaked into paper.
Between August 2020 and July 2021, nearly 9,000 gadgets of mail despatched to jails throughout Scotland examined constructive for an unlawful drug.
Following the introduction of the coverage, drug-taking incidents dropped by 36% – from 175 in December 2021 to 112 in March 2022 – in response to a letter to Holyrood’s Justice Committee in May 2022 from SPS chief govt Teresa Medhurst.