Sophie Eastwood, 40, has been living at Wishaw General Hospital since last August and she is guarded round the clock.
Sophie Eastwood shared a selfie from hospital
A transgender killer’s long stay in hospital is believed to have cost the taxpayer well over £1million. Sophie Eastwood, 40, has been living at Wishaw General Hospital since August 2024 and she is guarded round the clock.
She was moved there after swallowing razofr blades that left her with internal injuries. Eastwood, who strangled a cellmate, was in all-female jail Cornton Vale until 2023 when she was transferred to the male Glenochil prison after a scandal erupted over where trans prisoners should be housed.
But Eastwood claimed she faced abuse from other inmates and self-harmed at the jail. Left unable to process food, medics have given her total parenteral nutrition (TPN) – a nutritional mix that keeps her alive – for the past 18 months.
Eastwood, previously known as Daniel, shared a selfie from her bed as said she has agreed to bowel surgery. She said: “I’ve spoken with medical experts and I’ve been told an operation is possible.
“I’m not certain I’ll survive it, but I don’t feel good about the cost to the public purse so I’ve decided the only sensible choice is surgery.
“If I don’t come round, so be it. I don’t expect the public to have to pay to keep me alive. I know that some people will be angry and many will think I don’t deserve it.”
Eastwood has been under 24/7 guard at Wishaw General Hospital since August 2024
The murderer, who is serving a life term, spends her days handcuffed to her bed as she’s watched by two GeoAmey guards 24/7.
Her hospital bed alone – from August 2024 until her expected discharge next month – will cost about £400,000. NHS Lanarkshire confirmed this figure but could not give the TPN cost.
Academic articles online suggest it is about £1,000 per week. Coupled with the cost of administering it, it pushes the treatment bill towards £100,000. GeoAmey and the Scottish Prison Service were unable to provide a cost for guarding her but informed sources suggest a figure of £750,000.
Daily Record front page about Sophie Eastwood saying she would die in a male jail
Eastwood said she regretted killing Paul Algie, 22, in 2004, while living as Daniel. She said: “I did a terrible thing more than 20 years ago. I was 18. I view it as worse than many other murders because the guy was vulnerable and had done nothing to me.
“I’m sorry and regret it every day but I don’t consider myself a danger any more. I hope eventually I can persuade the prison service I can make a contribution to society outside jail.
“If my operation succeeds and my strength builds up, I will go back to a male prison to continue serving my sentence and that I won’t feel safe there. But I can only cross one bridge at a time.”
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The SPS changed its policy on violent trans offenders and now sends them to jails that align with their gender at birth after the Isla Bryson row in 2023.
Bryson, previously known as Adam Graham, declared he was transitioning to female while facing two rape charges and a plan to send him to a female jail after conviction sparked fury.
GeoAmey said it provides medical treatment escorts and said its priorities “are to balance the security of each individual escort and public protection while ensur-ing those in our care are treated with dignity”.