THAMES Valley Police are looking for a new firm to run healthcare in custody suites after a damning report drawn up following a surprise inspection.

A team from the Inspectorate of Prisons and Inspectorate of Constabulary went to nine custody suites at police stations across the region, including Oxford, Abingdon and Banbury, in September last year.

They raised concerns about mental healthcare services and medicine supplies and said provision in the Thames Valley was among the worst they had seen during a series of inspections of police forces across the country.

The force is now advertising for a firm to provide “healthcare services and forensic medical examination services for persons in custody” at its police stations.

The advert reads: “The care and examinations will be organised, managed and professionally delivered by healthcare professionals within a robust clinical governance framework, ensuring a safe and clinically-effective service, with the objective of delivering positive health and evidential outcomes.”

It adds: “The service will be delivered 24 hours per day, every day of the year, including public holidays.”

The move comes after the force considered how to respond to the inspection report, which was published in February.

Thames Valley Police did not respond to a request for a comment.

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