FAMILY and prison campaigners demand changes after an inquest found that an inmate who died at HMP Wormwood Scrubs had been failed by prison and health staff.

A jury at West London Coroner’s Court concluded that fear and confusion generated by Covid-19, inadequate care from prison staff and a lack of liaison between the prison and hospital all contributed to Luke Clark’s death on April 7 2020.

The 38-year-old was found dead in his cell in the Covid-19 wing of the prison less than 24 hours after arriving from St Bernard’s Hospital, Ealing, where he had undergone a mental health assessment.

His family said: “The lack of care and failure of staff to follow protocols, as well as the failure to put in place appropriate procedures at HMP Wormwood Scrubs during Covid-19, contributed towards Luke taking his own life.

“We hope Luke’s death is not in vain, and that changes within the prison following Luke’s passing, and the way healthcare information is communicated from hospital to the prison, will prevent future loss of life.”

Custody deaths charity Inquest said: “Luke was sent to prison and within 24 hours he was dead. He needed care and support for his mental ill-health, not criminalisation.”

Helen Stone, a solicitor at law firm Hickman and Rose, said: “The jury’s conclusions indicate that the staff working at HMP Wormwood Scrubs fundamentally failed in their duty of care towards Luke and that the provisions put in place to respond to the impact of Covid were inadequate and dangerous when applied to already vulnerable prisoners.”

The Prison Officers Association was asked to comment.