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Cookham Wood Prison

Volume 973: debated on Tuesday 13 November 1979

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asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the board of visitors at Cookham Wood prison about the prescribing of drugs, especially night sedatives, to female inmates; how many women were alleged to be on medication in June 1979; what was the actual number on medication; and if he will make a statement.

We have received no formal representations. But at the boards of visitors conference on 10 October, the representative of the board of visitors at Cookham Wood prison said that on a routine visit to the prison on 18 June he had been told that 50 prisoners were receiving night sedatives. In fact on that date 42 prisoners were receiving night sedatives. The question whether to prescribe medicines including night sedatives for a prisoner is a matter for the individual doctor responsible for the inmate's medical care.