A paramedic who failed to give adequate life support to a teenage girl has been struck off following a misconduct hearing.

Paramedic who treated Quinn Beadle gave her just a 'cursory glance'

A panel found several allegations proved after formal proceedings were taken against Gavin Wood, an ambulance crew member with over 20 years’ experience.

Members heard how he did not follow guidance when emergency services were called to help 17-year-old Quinn Milburn-Beadle who took her own life in Shildon, County Durham.

A Conduct and Competence Committee of the Health and Care Professions Tribunal Service heard he told police officers to stop resuscitating her and pronounced her dead after checking her pupils within just a few minutes of being at the scene.

Read more: Paramedic accused of misconduct told police to stop giving teenager CPR

The Northern Echo: Quinn Milburn-Beadle Quinn Milburn-Beadle (Image: Contributor)

The panel decided that Gavin Wood's actions amounted to misconduct and struck him off. Panel chair Janet Fisher said: "The direction of the panel is the registrar is directed to strike the name of Gavin Wood from the register from the date this order comes into effect."

The devastation of Quinn’s death was compounded for her parents less than a year later when her older brother Dyllon, 21, took his own life.

Read more: Ambulance whistleblower sacked days before Christmas 

Quinn's death is one of around 90 cases highlighted by NEAS whistleblower Paul Calvert who alleges families have been misled at inquests to cover up medical mistakes.

Important information regarding Quinn’s final moments was withheld, including the reading from a monitor showing heart activity.

It is understood a key witness statement given to the coroner at her first inquest in April 2019 was changed to omit references to mistakes, including failing to clear Quinn’s airways and the assertion that that life support would ‘not have had a positive outcome’.

The Northern Echo: Quinn's mother Tracey BeadleQuinn's mother Tracey Beadle (Image: Northern Echo)

Mr Wood was accused of not following North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust guidance and/or Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee Guidelines.

The following allegations were proven:

  • Giving advice to Police Officer 1 and/or Police Officer 2 to cease cardiopulmonary resuscitation
  • Not undertaking a 30 second electrocardiogram examination of Service User A prior to declaring recognition of life extinct
  • Not commencing cardiopulmonary resuscitation
  • Not assessing her airway
  • Not ventilating her lungs by using a bag-valve-mask with supplemental oxygen
  • Not applying an automated external defibrillator (AED)
  • Not attempting to gain and/or did not gain intravenous access report
  • Not administering adrenaline
  • Not continuing resuscitation efforts for a minimum period of 20 minutes

Mr Wood also faced accusations from December 9, 2018:

The following was proven:

  • Stating to two colleagues that an electrocardiogram had indicated the teenager was asystolic [had no heart beat] when he had not undertaken an electrocardiogram examination.

A number of other allegations were found not proven.

Stephen Segasby, chief operating officer for North East Ambulance Service, said: “Gavin Wood is no longer employed by the North East Ambulance Service. The HCPC has concluded that the level of care he provided fell short of what patients and their loved ones should be able to rely upon, and what we expect of paramedics in our organisation.

“We would like to offer our heartfelt condolences to Quinn’s family for their loss."

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Mr Wood was accused of being dishonest in relation to his conduct. He was also accused of misconduct.

The tribunal acknowledged that he has a physical / mental health condition.

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