Local prison hasn't got enough staff and has problems with healthcare systems

The report, published by the Independent Monitoring Board, has found that there are not enough staff on wings at Her Majesty's Prison Stoke Heath, which has raised concerns of staff safety amongst colleagues.

The board also highlighted issues about healthcare, with problems for the waiting time for treatment for mental health patients "the same, if not worse" than last year and a "matter of utmost urgency".

It said the prison, near Market Drayton, needed action, adding: "We continue to be concerned about the amount of time that prisoners with mental health problems are held awaiting hospital treatment.

"This frequently means that prisoners are on constant watch in the usually mothballed lower Health Care unit, which really is not a conducive atmosphere for prisoners with mental health problems.

" We are concerned about the difficulties the Health Care Department has over the recruitment of staff - particularly qualified nurses."

The board has said that this does not allow the staff to spend as much of their time meeting patients' needs as they would like to.

Amongst other issues, the organisation said that there is "a lack of work opportunities for prisoners" as well as "the ongoing national problem of property being lost on transfer from other prisons".

It said there was an apparent reduction of prisoners consultation meetings over the last 12 months, and an increase in the number of threats to staff with four serious assaults, which were reported to the police, and 14 less serious.

However, it was also noted that the prison has improved in areas, including providing better facilities such as showers and the refurbishment of one of the wings as well as giving more time out of cells over lunch periods.

The Howard League for Penal Reform, a charity to promote less crime, safer communities and less people in prison, has said that the problems are just a snapshot of national issues.

Frances Crook, chief executive said: "The serious concerns identified by the monitors at HMP Stoke Heath are not isolated to one prison.

"This is the latest of a litany of reports by independent experts that depict a terrifying picture of unsafe institutions, idleness and fear, which have been caused by dangerous reductions in staffing levels.

"Ministers must take responsibility for pushing the prison system to breaking point."

The Ministry of Justice was not available for comment about the report.

Stoke Heath is the latest jail in the region to be criticised.

Brinsford Jail, which serves Shropshire and sits alongside the M54 in South Staffordshire, was this month given the lowest rating nationwide by the National Offender Management Service.

Brinsford was the only prison out of 126 to be given the lowest score of one by the government agency, marking it as a "serious concern".

Neighbouring HMP Oakwood, which is run by G4S and cost £150 million, was given a score of two, meaning it is of "concern" to NOMS. However, it is an improvement on last year when it too received the lowest possible score.

Featherstone Prison, meanwhile, was given a three, meaning it is hitting the majority of its targets.