Letter to Governor

RE: Munir Farooqi A9693AQ
Governor: David Harding,
5 Love Lane
Wakefield
West Yorkshire
WF2 9AG

Dear Governor

Munir Farooqi is currently being held at HMP Wakefield as a security Category A prisoner. He has a disability that has a significant impact on his ability to carry out his day-to-day tasks. During this time, he has developed a variety of medical ailments including a significant loss of sight. We strongly believe that this is due to the lack of adequate healthcare provision by HMP Wakefield. Assessments carried out by healthcare professionals have concluded that the treatments required are essential.
Diabetic Health
The diet of starchy foods & carbohydrates such as potatoes is severely inadequate. These foods are unsuitable for a patient who suffers from diabetes. This is a very serious health issue that if left untreated, can lead to fatal results.
The outcome of this diet is that he now requires 50 units of insulin a day. This is more than double the standard amount of 20 – 22 units. This high dose of insulin is required due to the ongoing deterioration of his eyesight.

Failing to provide for a medical condition that arises from a disclosed disability, could give rise to a challenge under Article 14 ECHR and the Equality Act 2010 as an act of discrimination arising from his disability.

The treatment provided to Munir has been grossly inconsistent. By the time he eventually has access to the required treatment it has ‘little to no effect’, as noted by health care professionals at Wakefield Community Hospital. As a result, he is required to have monthly injections in his eyes. His eyesight has now deteriorated to the point where he cannot even see members of his own family at a short distance.

As stated in the letter dated 20 January by Munir’s solicitor, addressed to the Governor at HMP Wakefield, “the result of missing his appointments, caused my client intense physical and mental suffering. The effect being so degrading that it may amount to inhuman treatment towards my client.”

Munir has a right to access health care provisions and any delay on his accessing health care may contravene his rights as enshrined within the European convention of Human Rights (ECHR), namely Article 3 Prevention of Torture.
We want the NHS to maintain regular appointments. We are very concerned that they have been missed previously.

Chiropodist Appointment
Munir has applied to meet the chiropodist several times since December 2014. The chiropodist is readily available for other diabetic patients within the prison every Monday. It has been many months since Munir has been able to cut his own toenails because the nail trimmers currently provided are inappropriate for those who suffer from diabetes. Why has Munir had to wait for almost four months to access this very basic facility, which is supposed to be available within the prison premises on a weekly basis? This neglect is totally unacceptable, and must NOT be repeated again.

Missed Insulin Injections 19.03.15
On the morning of Thursday 19th March, Munir went to collect his insulin injections which he is required to take three times a day. The nurse asked him to return back at midday, resulting in him missing his first dose of insulin. When Munir returned at midday, a second nurse redirected Munir to the ‘repeat prescription office’. The staff at HMP Wakefield once again failed to provide the insulin injections, causing Munir to miss his second dose of insulin and left him feeling deeply distressed. A nurse from the office then falsely promised to bring the insulin injections to Munir’s cell, towards the end of his social time. He received it very late in the evening during the next time slot out of his cell, when he returned yet again for his insulin injections. These delays will cause significant detriment to Munir’s health and are totally unacceptable.

Family Social Visits
Munir has wrongfully had his enhanced privileges revoked; resulting in a reduction in the number of visits he is entitled to. Despite the constant requests made by his family, HMP Wakefield continued to restrict them from visiting him at the prison by refusing to provide weekend visiting orders throughout February 2015. This denies Munir’s eleven year old daughter and four year old granddaughter from visiting him on school days.

Munir Farooqi’s treatment at HMP Wakefield demonstrates tremendous neglect. The prison authorities and the governors have comprehensively failed to ensure that he is given the standard of healthcare that he is entitled to (as stated under Article 6 of the ECHR), refused access to facilities that are readily available to other prisoners and finally, restricting his family members from visiting him.

As the Governor, I would like you to ensure the following:

1.	Munir Farooqi’s health care appointments are no longer cancelled or delayed, and that he promptly receives access to any required attention relating to his health.
2.	That the prison immediately provides Munir with weekend visiting orders and does not prevent him from this privilege again, as per his rights.

I would like to implore you to act swiftly. This is not a matter that is isolated to the fate of Munir Farooqi, rather this is a reflection of our society and its commitment to human rights. We cannot stand for such gross negligence in the treatment of any persons.
Thank you for your concern and consideration.

Yours Faithfully,