Wayne Couzens's £17k NHS Operation Sparks Outrage

Wayne Couzens, the former police officer serving a whole life sentence for the 2021 kidnap, rape, and murder of Sarah Everard, was recently transported from HMP Frankland to a nearby NHS hospital for a lumbar procedure, with taxpayer costs totaling around £17,000. The operation itself reportedly cost up to £7,000, while heightened security—including a high-risk escort in response to public threats—added approximately £10,000. The procedure was not an emergency and NHS waiting times are typically 18 weeks, raising concerns that Couzens may have received priority treatment. Politicians from both Labour and Conservative parties criticized the expenditure and insisted Couzens should not receive special treatment. The operation aimed to alleviate Couzens' ongoing back pain, which he had frequently complained about. The Ministry of Justice declined to comment on individual prisoners, but the event has reignited debate over the use of public resources for notorious inmates.