Paramedic UK » AMPDS

Tragic 999 patient was not an ‘emergency’

Editor — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:30:38 +0000

A coroner has labelled the ambulance service system ‘daft’ following the death of a pensioner.

Betty Henshall, of Hillgate, Stockport, died at Stepping Hill Hospital in December 2008.

Coroner John Pollard ruled at a inquest in Stockport that the 76-year-old died from a gastrointestinal haemorrhage.

But Mr Pollard questioned the ambulance coding system – which he called ‘daft’- after they coded Ms Henshall’s condition as ‘green’, meaning she faced a 60-minute wait for an ambulance.

via Manchester Evening News.

Family’s concern over 999 response to call

Editor — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:19:08 +0000

A disabled pensioner lay on the floor after a fall for more than three hours after 999 operators said he was not a priority, his family have said.

Kenneth France, aged 76, from Kingsley, who has dementia and cannot walk unaided after two minor strokes, is confined to his armchair.

He fell at about 11.30am on Friday and his wife and carer, Annie, was unable to pick him up.

She dialled 999 to ask help from an ambulance crew but, after telling the operator that he had not broken any bones and was not bleeding, she was told by a triage nurse he was not a priority case.

Read full article: Family’s concern over 999 response to call – Northampton Chronicle and Echo.

Don’t count on 999 if you have a car crash

Editor — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 07:57:39 +0000

He ended up with a busted pelvis, another passenger was knocked unconscious and yet another was trapped inside the car.

It was 2am and he called 999 on his mobile phone, asking for the ambulance service. The manner in which he was treated led him to ask for the transcript between him and the operator.

Read full article: The Sun

Man found dead in home after 999 staff refused ambulance because his pancreatitis was ‘not life-threatening’

Editor — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 07:55:56 +0000

A retired hotel manager who was refused an ambulance when he dialled 999 was found dead when police broke into his home the next day.

John Barker, 65, was told his pancreatitis was not life-threatening and that he should contact his GP to get painkillers, an inquest heard.

Recording a narrative verdict, York coroner Donald Coverdale said there were three lost opportunities by the Yorkshire Ambulance Service control room to get Mr Barket to hospital.

Read full article: Mail Online.

Stroke patients misdiagnosed by 999 system

Editor — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 07:19:59 +0000

More than half of stroke patients taken to Basingstoke hospital by ambulance were misdiagnosed by the 999 call system, a new study reveals.

Potentially vital emergency care was delayed after computer software used by call-handlers at South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust (SCAS) misdiagnosed stroke victims.

During the six-month study (December 2006 to May 2007), of almost 5,000 patients admitted to Basingstoke hospital by ambulance, 126 were subsequently diagnosed by a doctor as having had a stroke.

Read full article: This is Hampshire.

US: Dad Has Seizure, Daughter Arrested For Calling Police

Editor — Mon, 04 May 2009 22:14:34 +0000

The satire news site Anorak News has a very funny but also somewhat disturbing item in its ‘Strange but true’ section about a 17 year old girl who calls 911 after her father has a seizure.

The site also includes a video that has actual recordings of the call and comment from the people involved. Well worth a visit.

Read the full article and watch the video: Anorak News

Australia:Emergency call op ‘very sorry’ about call

Editor — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 14:24:17 +0000

An ambulance call operator has apologised for the way she handled emergency phone calls made by a Sydney schoolboy, who died while bushwalking in the Blue Mountains.

Laura Meade, 26, had been working at the NSW Ambulance Service call centre in Redfern for nine months when she took two phone calls from a dehydrated and distressed David Iredale, 17, on December 11, 2006.

Read full article: smh.com.au .