Jamie Stuart Funnell · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 19 December 2023 I commenced an investigation into the death of Jamie Stuart FUNNELL aged 44. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 30 September 2025. The conclusion of the inquest was that:

Narrative Conclusion: Jamie Stuart Funnell's death was due to the effects of drug and alcohol withdrawal that was exacerbated by a series of omissions by healthcare and prison staff.

Jamie Stuart Funnell was detained at HMP Lewes, 1 Brighton Road, Lewes - arriving on Friday 15th December 2023 where he resided until his death at 17:16 hours on 16th December 2023. During his detention at HMP Lewes, Jamie was withdrawing from alcohol and drugs on a specialist wing, then known as K-wing.

His care at HMP Lewes presented missed opportunities for detoxification, identification and management, essential protocol-driven care and potentially life saving medication prescriptions and reviews.

From the evidence given, the jury found multiple instances of insufficient multi-disciplinary care, inconsistent monitoring, multiple deferrals of responsibility and a definite failure in communication.

HMP Lewes has displayed cases of institutional apathy that allowed a vulnerable adult to fall through its care protocols.

The key points the jury saw as possibly causative in Jamie's death were as follows:

- When Jamie was admitted to HMP Lewes, healthcare staff omitted to correctly identify and record vital assessments to determine the stage and nature of his withdrawal; meaning the appropriate regime was never put in place.
- Conflicting accounts regarding Jamie's symptoms during his stay at HMP Lewes demonstrate a clear failure to correctly record, keep, observe and communicate when caring for a vulnerable adult.
- Finally there was no instinctive initiation of CPR at the first opportunity.

1.The Standard Operating Procedure for Assessment and Management of Alcohol Dependence expired in March 2024. I heard evidence that it will be replaced by an updated Policy on 9.10.25. I asked for a copy of the draft Policy to determine whether issuing a PPD could be avoided when hearing evidence about PFD matters but was advised by the PPG’s legal representative that this was not possible, without a reason why being offered.

I consider that action should be taken to prevent a failure to update before their expiry all PPG’s Standard Operating Procedures including this one which the Clinical Reviewer found to be potentially unclear. His findings were published on 19.4.24, a month after the Standard Operating Procedure had expired, and yet it continues to remain out of date, almost 18 months later. PPG could have reasonably expected it would be subject to scrutiny in this inquest and update it accordingly and in a timely manner. Their failure to do so indicates a cavalier attitude to reviewing and updating important Policies and action should be taken to address this.

2. I heard evidence describing the care given to Jamie Funnell after his collapse as chaotic, with faulty equipment and incorrect CPR technique. The Ambulance crews witnessed the healthcare members carrying out CPR before taking over. After Jamie’s death was confirmed, a crew member raised concerns with the Duty Governor about the CPR attempts she had witnessed.

I have heard evidence that although 32 eligible healthcare staff have now completed life support training, I have not heard any evidence regarding the level of this training and remain concerned, especially in light of the unsatisfactory response by PPG in its Action Plan for the PFO Report dated September 2024 that adequate training of staff and monitoring of equipment to prevent faults in its operation have been undertaken to prevent a fatality occurring in similar circumstances.