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>FROM "STORMONT-WATCH VIA www.voy.com/70381/ > > >>Home Office >>Hilary Benn MP, >>Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, >>50 Queen Anne's Gate, >>London SW 1H 9AT > Home Office Ref: 02/62/AD >> >>Date 30/11/02 >> >>Mark Durkan Esq., MLA, >>Constituency Office, >>7b Messines Park, >>Racecourse Road, >>DERRY BT48 7QZ >> >>Dear Mark, >>Thank you for your letter of 14 November to the Home >>Secretary expressing concern about the medical >>treatment of Mr Aidan Hulme, who is at Belmarsh >>prison. You also attached to your letter a copy of an >>email received from Deirdre Fennessy of the Irish >>Freedom Committee in Chicago, raising other issues in >>respect of Mr Hulme's conditions of detention. I am >>replying as Minister with responsibility for prisons. >> >>In your letter you say the operation required by Mr >>Hulme has not been carried out. In fact, Mr Hulme was >>admitted to hospital on 12 November and underwent the >>appropriate surgery the following day. He was >>discharged from hospital and returned to Belmarsh on >>18 November. I can assure you that Mr Hulme is >>receiving all relevant medical care at Belmarsh and >>has done so since his arrival there. >> >>Furthermore, at a recent court hearing it was agreed >>by all parties that Mr Hulme should receive his >>treatment at an NHS hospital. It was also agreed that >>Mr Hulme should be treated by an NHS consultant but as >>a prison patient, for which he would meet the cost. >> >>Turning to the other matters raised in the email >>messages from Ms Fennessy, Mr Hulme is not held under >>a 22-hour lockdown in a windowless cement cell. All >>cells are equipped with a toilet, sink with hot and >>cold running water, a bed, a table and chair. More >>importantly, all cells have a window and therefore >>access to daylight. All prisoners in the Unit receive >>an hour's exercise every day, access to a shower and >>daily periods of association with the option to watch >>television. Mr Hulme will therefore be unlocked for >>an average of three hours per day. In addition, >>prisoners are able to use the telephone to contact >>family, friends and legal advisers, as well as being >>able to receive visits. >> >>Prisoners have regular access to medical facilities, >>either with a nurse or a doctor. In addition, Belmarsh >>has well -established contacts with local hospitals. >>Despite the suggestion in the email, Belmarsh was >>neither offered nor accepted any financial payment in >>connection with any aspect of the hospital admission >>of Mr Hulme. Mr Hulme did meet the costs of the >>medical treatment itself, but this was due to his >>being dealt with as a private patient. >> >>I hope this is helpful. >> >>Hilary Benn

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