A murderer jailed for life at a prison in Yorkshire died in hospital after catching Covid-19.
Thomas Wolens, sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of murder and robbery in 1988, had spent time in several prisons before he was moved to HMP Wakefield, dubbed the Monster Mansion, in January 2020 to live on a dedicated wing for personality disorder treatment.
A report into his death prepared by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman said Wolens had a history of health issues, including heart failure, angina, type 2 diabetes and mental health problems. He also had a mild learning disability, which affected his ability to read and write so healthcare staff noted he should be given information in easy read format.
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According to YorkshireLive, Wolens was sent to hospital by ambulance on February 19, 2021, after he fell in his cell and his blood oxygen saturation was found to be very low. The next day he tested positive for Covid-19 and was treated using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, as well as intravenous medication.
On February 22, Wolens said that he did not wish to be resuscitated if his heart or breathing stopped, and end of life care was started and the prison informed his niece. Wolens then asked for the CPAP mask to be removed and hospital staff complied with his wishes, as they were satisfied he had the mental capacity to make this decision.
He died at 8.30pm on February 23, aged 67. The cause of death was listed as Covid-19 pneumonia, although it was not clear where he had contracted the illness.
The report concluded: "The clinical reviewer concluded that Mr Wolens’ clinical care at Wakefield was equivalent to that he could have expected to receive in the community. However, he made recommendations about the need for the frequency of blood tests for diabetics to be compliant with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, and about the prompt implementation of care plans.
"We consider that Mr Wolens should have been formally notified of his clinical vulnerability to Covid-19 and the policy on shielding. Additionally, his next of kin should have been informed sooner of his diagnosis and that he had been taken to hospital.
"We are concerned that Wakefield was unable to provide the risk assessment and other escort documents covering Mr Wolens' final journey and stay in hospital. We were, therefore, unable to investigate the propriety of the escort arrangements."
The Ombudsman made a number of recommendations, including to the Governor at Wakefield to ensure that prison documents are stored securely and provided promptly for Ombudsman investigations.
