![Patient dies after three calls for an ambulance](https://chadlaw.dnsupdate.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/GettyImages-844400552-724x388.jpg)
10
Aug 2021
Patient dies after three calls for an ambulance
An inquest has heard that an asthma sufferer died despite her family making three 999 calls for an ambulance.
The patient’s husband began CPR when she stopped breathing, prompting the last call before medics arrived.
Medical experts informed the hearing in Denbighshire that the outcome would have been the same if paramedics had arrived earlier and a conclusion of death by natural causes was reached by the coroner’s court.
Gill Pleming, a call centre manager for the Welsh Ambulance Service in Llanfairfechan, Conwy county, said the first call handler was told that the patient was not conscious, so it was categorised as an “amber one” call, which was deemed to be correct following an internal investigation.
Ms Pleming confirmed that the second call had been incorrectly coded -it should have been “red”, classified as an immediate threat to life, with an eight minute response target for 65 per cent of calls – amber calls have no time target.
Dr Jonathan Whelan, assistant medical director of the Welsh Ambulance Service said “Had that second call been correctly categorised and the paramedics arrived sooner, based on the fact that (the patient) suffered a cardiac arrest I don’t think there’s anything that could realistically have been done to save her.”
Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events. Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.
If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.
Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
Freephone : 0800 304 7382
- Like this ? Share with friends