Sodexo and NHS Lothian admit charges over prisoner’s death

Sodexo Ltd and NHS Lothian have each admitted a health-and-safety charge over their care of Calum Inglis, who died in HMP Addiewell after contracting Covid in October 2021. The guilty pleas were entered at Edinburgh Sheriff Court and concern the organisations’ duties toward the 34-year-old prisoner, who was found dead in his cell on October 24. The court heard that Sodexo, which operates the West Lothian prison for the Scottish Prison Service, failed to adequately monitor Inglis after he tested positive. NHS Lothian, which provides healthcare at the prison, failed to put an adequate care plan in place, according to the court account. Inglis tested positive on October 12 and was isolated in his cell. He had asthma and was unvaccinated. Court proceedings heard that he repeatedly sought paracetamol and made requests for help, including through his cell intercom. He had no contact with medical professionals after being placed in isolation, the court was told. A fiscal depute said expert reports identified missed opportunities to provide appropriate medical care, including after the positive test and in the 24 hours before Inglis died, when he could have been transferred to...