A whistleblower who raised concerns about paramedics masking mistakes where patients have died has warned the narrow scope of an independent review means some cases that were covered up could be ‘hidden forever’.
NHS England has published the terms of reference for the investigation into allegations regarding information supplied at inquests by medics from North East Ambulance Service.
Former coroners’ office Paul Calvert has said he is aware of at least 90 cases where families of people who have died have been misinformed about their loved one’s last moments.
Read more: Leaked emails 'show ambulance inquiry body is unfit' to review cover-up scandal
The review, ordered by former Health Secretary Sajid Javid after the scandal broke last May, is being carried out for former hospital boss Dame Marianne Griffiths, and could be published this month.
Mr Calvert, who was sacked by ambulance bosses days before Christmas, said: “The terms of reference are clearly designed to not include the ongoing malpractice, only focusing on a limited time period and limited cases.
“The current TOR will not identify the true extent of the malpractice and criminality at the trust.
“The TOR has been designed in order to provide a set of contrived results.”
Information about the review published on the NHS England website states it will ‘critically analyse the sequence of events following concerns first raised by trust staff in spring 2019’.
It will review the processes surrounding coronial investigations during the period when the alleged incidents took place, December 2018 – December 2019, in comparison with the processes in place today.
The review sets out to determine whether changes implemented to coronial processes, following the previous reviews and investigations undertaken, have resulted in the expected and required improvement
It will also seek to understand the extent to which the culture of the trust enables staff to feel safe, supported and encouraged to report and escalate any concerns, including through Freedom to Speak Up arrangements.
Dame Marianne Griffiths will also review the trust’s HR and whistleblowing processes and the handling of concerns raised by staff since the issues were first raised in spring 2019.
Mr Calvert, from Peterlee, said: “The malpractice continued after the timeline currently mentioned by the trust and the limited number of cases it has chosen to review is incomprehensible and lacks legitimate coherency.
“These TOR have been designed, in order that the trust and regulators perpetuate the "historic" narrative and propaganda churned out by the NEAS, in order to appease the public and dampen things down, in an attempt to suggest the trust rectified the concerns that were first raised in 2018/2019.
“This narrative is simply not true, the problems continued and staff at the trust continued to raise their concerns, doing so afterwards with line and senior management at the trust.
“The concerns were raised well into 2021 with many managers and other channels at the trust, including the executive and non-executive team.
“The fact that the trust has chosen such a narrow time window and a handful of cases, is designed to perpetuate that after 2018-2019, the mistakes of the past were remedied.
“This is simply incorrect, misleading and dishonest to suggest.”
When the review was first announced Mr Calvert and Tracey Beadle, a Shildon mother who was misled over the exact circumstances surrounding the death of her 17-year-old daughter, Quinn, said they feared it would be a ‘whitewash’.
They said a judicial public inquiry was needed as concerns had already been registered with NHS England.
Mr Calvert, who said he refused to accept a £41,000 non-closure agreement to stay quiet about his concerns, said: “There is a clear conflict here and a lack of impartiality.
“Not only that, but the review and Dame Marianne does not have the necessary powers to carry out a robust and thorough investigation, she has no investigatory powers whatsoever.
“She cannot request evidence be produced, nor can she compel witnesses to give evidence, as a judicial-led public inquiry would have the power to do.
“Dame Marianne has no powers over the police or HM Coroners.
“Yet these public bodies have played an important part in proceedings, yet no mention is made of this in the ToR.”
Read next:
North East ambulance whistleblower offered £41k to stay silent
Whistleblower 'bullied' over cover-up claims about North East Ambulance
North East Ambulance Service review disappoints families
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The NHS website acknowledges the review commissioned has ‘limited scope’ but Mr Calvert said the terms should be wider as the matters are in the public interest.
Mr Calvert, who has set up a Crowdfunder appeal with a target of £10,000 to help fund his legal costs to appeal his sacking, said: “The circumstances of a number of deaths will be covered up and hidden forever.
“Hiding malpractice and not learning from mistakes, meaning senior people at the trust will not be held to account.
“Also, this places the public at an ongoing potential risk of harm, due to matters not being addressed correctly.”
North East Ambulance Service and NHS England have been approached for comment.
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