Appalling. You wouldn’t think it would be so hard to ensure women are given proper treatment. They should have a dedicated midwife who comes as soon as labour starts and they make the decision when to go to hospital. Prison guards are not medically trained and should have no part in deciding when to transfer or seek medical help. Women should also be able to contact their midwife at any time for advice and midwives advice should be followed.
That's a good point Frozen. There needs to be much better access to midwives, something like a partnership arrangement with the local community team and rapid transfer to hospital when necessary.
It's many years ago now, but I did my student nurse training in a hospital that was close to a prison and a YOP. I remember prison officers reluctance to believe male prisoners who were unwell / injured, perhaps because of experience, but I do remember one muppet telling (or trying to tell) me that he needed to be present during surgery under GA in case the prisoner was faking it.
I appreciate it must be a difficult environment and not every woman will be a model prisoner. Pregnant women are rarely a physical threat to anyone except themselves though, and to treat women in labour so badly is inhumane.