'Model prisoner' died in process of being released back into community from Shropshire jail

Jonathan Geoffrey Mather, died in a half-way house at the Clive Unit at Stoke Heath Prison on May 14 last year.

The inquest into his death held at Shirehall heard that the 37-year-old, from Derby, was registered with a local GP and did not have access to the prison’s healthcare centre at the time of his death.

Peter Foord, corporate risk manager for Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust, said prisoners had the same access to healthcare when they were in the half-way house as they would in the community.

He said: “Prisoners can no longer access the healthcare centre once they are released from the main prison.”

“It’d be the same as when they are outside prison in the community, they register with a medical practice.”

John Ellery, coroner for Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, Mr Ellery said: “Mrs Mather disagrees with that policy and believes that prisoners should still receive healthcare from the prison healthcare centre.”

Mr Mather’s mother, Susan Mather, added: “Surely it should make tweaks to progress as a unit to take proper care of the prisoners. All that I’m asking is for them to look at their policy, none of this is going to bring Jonathan back.

"They should be able to access medical care in the main prison, they’re not afforded the same consideration as I see it.”

Mr Foord said that he would raise Mrs Mather’s concerns with NHS England.

MrJohn Ellery, coroner for Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, said that the cause of Mr Mather’s death was given as heart problems.

“I’ve seen no evidence that John’s death was reasonably preventable," he said. “Can I offer my condolences to the family."

He explained Mr Mather had served in the military and was in the process of being released back into the community, describing him as a "model prisoner".

Mr Ellery concluded that Mr Mather died of natural causes.