The man had no knowledge of how the catheter should be used, nor was there any healthcare or prison staff with knowledge on site.
The urine test had to be interrupted because the prisoner was injured.
The prisoner had previously made several failed attempts to provide a urine sample in the usual way, which had led to warnings. According to the prison, the only option left was to provide the sample via a catheter.
The Parliamentary Ombudsman believes that it cannot have been voluntary for the prisoner to provide a urine sample in the way that it was done and therefore directs severe criticism at the prison.
This is the second time the Parliamentary Ombudsman has criticized the Prison and Probation Service for coercing prisoners to use catheters for urine sampling without the assistance of healthcare personnel.
