Man waits Two Days to go to Hospital after Dialling 999
Despite the desperate calls of a gallstones sufferer, a 999 operator refused to send an ambulance suggesting he take a warm bath instead. After a delay of two days from his initial call he was eventually admitted but died just 30 minutes after his arrival at the hospital.
In March 2013 Mr Mark Hemmings, aged 41, called for an ambulance. Despite asking three times for an ambulance he was refused each time. He consequently attempted to speak to an out of hours GP who did not visit him and told him to make an appointment.
Mr Hemmings was taken to the university Hospital of North Staffordshire after having been found in agony by a care worker. Mark, who had schizophrenia and psychosis, died from his pancreatic duct being blocked by gallstones. To add to the family’s distress his mother, Sylvia, passed away at the hospital on the same day.
The West Midlands Ambulance Service has defended their actions, stating that National Guidelines were followed. The Trust met with the family and undertook a Route Cause Analysis (RCA) and has agreed to work with the family to see if improvements can be made to the system. The Trust also offered its condolences to the family.
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