The six people who were rushed to hospital with food poisoning at HMP Lewes have all been discharged. Emergency services raced to the East Sussex prison yesterday.
Paramedics treated three prisoners and three staff members at the jail before they were taken to hospital in Brighton.
Initial reports said at least 10 people were being treated after being poisoned. The incident led to a swift response from emergency services with a CBRN ambulance van being seen outside.
The initials stand for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear. Decontamination tents were also set up outside the hospital as a precautionary message.
A photo seen outside HMP Lewes where prisoners and staff suffered food poisoning. (Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)Following reports of the poisoning, signs outside the hospital were displayed outside warning of a "major incident." The hospital would later explain it remained open and had been prepared to receive those struck down by food poisoning.
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"Concerned to hear about the incident at Lewes prison. Emergency services are on scene and it is important to let them deal with the situation in looking after those affected," local conservative MP Maria Caulfield said on X, formerly Twitter.
Paramedics treated people who fell ill with food poisoning. (Eddie Mitchell)The prison kitchen was closed temporarily but was later reopened, according to UK News In Pictures. An investigation into the cause of the food poisoning has been launched.
"We are working with the emergency services to deal with a suspected food poisoning incident at HMP Lewes," a spokesperson for the Prison Service told UK News In Pictures.
According to the NHS, food poisoning symptoms typically present themselves in the days after eating the food that caused the infection - in some cases, they can occur just hours later.
Symptoms for food poisoning include:
- feeling sick (nausea)
- diarrhoea
- being sick (vomiting)
- stomach cramps
- a high temperature of 38C or above
- feeling generally unwell – such as feeling tired or having aches and chills
The Mirror has contacted The Ministry of Justice and Sussex Police for comment.
HMP Lewes holds 692 prisoner in a mix of single and double cells. As a category B prison, HMP Lewes houses prisoners who are taken directly from court in the local area.
Inspectors have been scathing about conditions at the prison, particularly over the number of violent incidents. Prisoners at risk of self-harm and suicide were also not well cared for, according to a February 2023 report.
"Levels of violence remained similar to the [2022] inspection and not enough was done to investigate incidents or challenge perpetrators," it said. "The rate of self-harm had increased and was high. Not enough support, interventions or time unlocked were available for the most vulnerable prisoners and those we spoke to did not feel well cared for."
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