In an exclusive and revealing interview, former prison GP Dr Amanda Brown has shared the profound challenges of providing medical care to some of Britain's most despised criminals. This comes as medics work to save the life of Soham murderer Ian Huntley, who was brutally attacked in prison last week and remains in an induced coma with slim survival chances.
The Emotional Burden of Prison Medicine
Dr Brown, who worked for nearly two decades in some of the UK's toughest prisons including Wormwood Scrubs and Bronzefield, described how she largely managed to compartmentalise her feelings when treating notorious inmates. However, she admitted that one particular case left her physically sickened before even meeting the prisoner.
"I have had to treat notorious criminals over the 19 years, and mostly I managed to see them and their illness rather than their crimes or notoriety," Dr Brown explained. "There was only one occasion I remember feeling physically sick before seeing someone who was in the segregation wing, whose crime I had read about in the press."
Facing Infamous Inmates
Among the high-profile prisoners Dr Brown encountered was Lucy Letby, the neonatal nurse convicted of murdering seven babies. Surprisingly, Dr Brown revealed that meeting Letby at HMP Bronzefield "didn't bother me at all, I think because I just couldn't believe she was guilty."
Reflecting on how she might have responded to treating Ian Huntley, Dr Brown acknowledged she might have "struggled" given her current perspective outside the prison system. "Now that I am no longer working in prison, I do actually think that I would have struggled to see Huntley," she contemplated.
A Career Path Forged by Principle
Dr Brown's journey into prison medicine began unexpectedly after she resigned from her traditional GP practice in 2004, disillusioned by the introduction of targets and financial incentives. Her principled stand led to a magazine article that caught the attention of prison medical recruiters, changing her career trajectory completely.
"That phone call changed my life," said the 71-year-old doctor, "as I went on to work in prisons for the next 19 years until I reluctantly retired in April 2023."
The Reality of Prison Violence
Dr Brown witnessed extensive violence during her prison tenure, describing brutal inmate attacks using weapons ranging from snooker balls in socks to razor blades attached to toothbrushes. She recalled one particularly shocking case where boiling sugar water was thrown over an inmate in the shower, causing severe burns as the sticky substance adhered to skin longer than water alone.
"Another man in his seventies that I was called to see had been kicked and beaten so badly by a gang of men that he was barely conscious when I saw him," Dr Brown remembered. "They had fractured his femur. They had found out that he was a paedophile."
Systemic Challenges and Safety Concerns
Dr Brown identified a significant deterioration in safety at HMP Wormwood Scrubs around 2011-2013, which she attributed to government benchmarking that led to experienced staff being replaced by younger, less experienced officers. "The Scrubs felt a lot less safe after so many wonderful staff left," she observed.
One of her greatest professional frustrations was "persuading the officer in charge of the prison to allow me to send a patient to hospital if I felt they needed to be admitted for further treatment or investigation." This bureaucratic hurdle sometimes reduced her to "tears of anger and frustration."
Current Prison Crisis
The attack on Ian Huntley comes amid growing concerns about prison safety, with the government revealing an 11% increase in prisoner-on-prisoner assaults in men's prisons during 2024 compared to the previous year. Facilities are currently operating at 99% capacity, while assaults on prison staff have risen by 13%.
Rachel Fletcher, Head of Crime and Regulatory at Slater Heelis Solicitors, told the Mirror that these incidents raise "serious questions about the safety of both inmates and staff" and called for "a clear and pressing need for a review of safety within our prisons."
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson responded: "This Government inherited a prison system in crisis – overcrowded and rife with violence. We are recruiting more officers and deploying them where they are most needed, as well as investing £40 million in new security measures to clamp down on the contraband that fuels violence behind bars."
Personal Reflections and Legacy
Despite the challenges, Dr Brown found her prison work deeply rewarding, particularly her seven years working with female inmates at Bronzefield. "I really loved working with women whose stories were often so sad and shocking," she said.
Her experiences ultimately led to writing three bestselling books about prison medicine. "My prison experience bizarrely found me writing three books about it," Dr Brown reflected, "which at the time I found difficult, but now that's all behind me, I'm glad I did."
As the medical team continues their efforts to save Ian Huntley's life, Dr Brown's revelations provide unprecedented insight into the complex ethical and emotional landscape faced by those who provide healthcare to society's most reviled individuals.
