Annual Report 2010 by the National Preventive Mechanism against Torture the taking of blood or tissue samples, TACs and X-rays). In the subsequent examinations they monitor the vital signs of the detainees and check for any changes in their physical, mental or psychological condition. If any illnesses or intolerance of foods or medicaments are detected, or should it be deemed necessary to continue providing medical treatment, the custodial officers are informed accordingly. If necessary, it can be recommended that detainees be moved to appropriate hospital facilities to monitor the progress of their illnesses and any preliminary treatment. A report is drawn up on each such visit and handed over to the relevant duty court (that of Vitoria in the cases examined here), from where it is passed on to the central magistrates’ court in charge of investigating the case. Medicaments are Medicaments are dispensed to detainees in line with criteria laid down by the dispensed in line with forensic specialists, though the Ertzaintza protocol for co-ordination of criteria laid down by forensic specialists. Channels are provided for assistance for persons held incommunicado envisages channels for families to supply any medicaments habitually used by detainees. In such cases a certificate families to supply from a primary care physician is required indicating the guidelines for each medicaments patient. Such medicaments can be handed in at any Ertzaintza police station. It was observed that these medicaments were stored in their original packaging in the locker assigned to each detainee. No evidence of written rules was found, nor of sachets containing ready-prepared individual doses. Nor was any evidence found of healthcare personnel being involved in preparing the relevant doses. In the case examined the type and dose of the medication to be dispensed during incommunicado detention varied. It would be advisable for prescription drugs to be prepared in individual sachets for each dose by healthcare personnel. In any event, the doses dispensed, the times when they are given and any associated incident must be recorded on the reports drawn up by the custodial officers. Forensic specialists Examination of the reports drawn up by the forensic specialists revealed that recommend what they made recommendations on what measures should be adopted to prevent measures should be taken in case of pre-existing illness Guidelines on the timing of meals and dispensing of medicaments should be observed any pre-existing illnesses from getting worse. On the visit it was found that these recommendations had been passed on to the officers in charge of the facility by the forensic specialists a few minutes previously. Unless otherwise indicated by a doctor, meals and the dispensing of medicaments should be timed to fit in as closely as possible with the normal timetables at the facility. Families are informed of 148. Article 510.3 LECRIM indicates that no incoming or outgoing the fact of the arrest and communications at all are to be allowed unless expressly authorised by the relevant that incommunicado detention has been applied 82 court. Article 527.b) of the same Act establishes that detainees do not have the right to have the fact and place of their detention notified to a person of their THE OMBUDSMAN OF SPAIN