By Muhammad Salma|M10news|UK News|4 August, 2025
Two Women Die Within Three Days at HMP Bronzefield: Urgent Concerns Over UK Prison Healthcare
Two women have died within three days at HMP Bronzefield in Ashford, Surrey — raising urgent questions about the standard of care at the UK’s largest women’s prison.
One of the deceased was aged just 25 and reportedly died while undergoing detox on a specialist wing. The second death occurred days later, sparking widespread concern among inmates and prison reform campaigners.
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Investigations Underway
The deaths are not being treated as suspicious, though investigations are under way by Surrey Police, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, and the prison’s private operator, Sodexo.
Sources within Bronzefield described the situation as “terrifying” — with inmates now afraid to sleep.
“There is no proper healthcare at all… That’s two in less than two days,” one inmate told The Mirror. “This woman that died last night, she was really young and she was detoxing.”
Police Confirm Timeline of Deaths
Surrey Police confirmed officers were called to the prison on Sunday 28 July around 4.30pm and again on Thursday 31 July at 9am following the separate discoveries. Both deaths are being treated as “unexplained” but not suspicious. A file has been passed to the coroner.
A History of Healthcare Failures at Bronzefield
HMP Bronzefield currently houses several high-profile inmates, including convicted baby killer Lucy Letby and aristocrat Constance Marten. The Category A facility has previously faced damning scrutiny over inmate healthcare.
Previous Tragedies Highlight Systemic Issues
In 2019, a teenage inmate gave birth alone in her cell and her newborn baby died. A watchdog report revealed she bit through the umbilical cord herself after repeated calls for help were ignored. Staff discovered the dead baby 12 hours later.
In 2016, Natasha Chin, 39, died in her cell after repeatedly vomiting for nine hours without receiving medical attention or her prescribed medication. An inquest found her death was due to “systemic failure” and “neglect”.
NHS England Responds to Latest Incidents
Responding to the latest incidents, NHS England said it was “deeply concerned” and is working with healthcare providers and His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) to understand what went wrong.
Official NHS Statement
A spokesperson said:
“While we are unable to comment on individual cases, NHS England is working with the healthcare provider and HMPPS to fully understand the circumstances and will ensure all appropriate action is taken.”
Campaigners have long warned of deteriorating health standards inside Bronzefield, particularly on detox wings where inmates are often in medical crisis. The recent deaths have intensified calls for immediate reform.
Bronzefield, operated by Sodexo, is one of the few privately run women’s prisons in the UK. Critics argue that cost-cutting and staffing pressures have repeatedly led to basic healthcare failings.
Sodexo has not yet responded publicly to media inquiries. The Ministry of Justice also declined to comment on the specific cases but said it is “closely monitoring” the situation.
Demands for Accountability
A prison reform source told M10News:
“It’s unconscionable that women continue to die in custody under preventable circumstances. How many more lives must be lost before we see real accountability?”
Awaiting Coroner’s Findings
The full results of the coroner’s inquiries are expected to be released in the coming weeks. In the meantime, pressure continues to mount on Sodexo and NHS partners to explain how two women died under their care in less than 72 hours.
