AN MP last night called for a “thorough investigation” after an ambulance driver ended his shift during a 999 dash to hospital.
The condition of Ali Asghar, 69, a father-of-four from Stockton, who had suffered a stroke, deteriorated and he died of a suspected heart attack shortly after arriving at the accident and emergency (A&E) department.
Last night, the North-East Ambulance Service (NEAS) said both the driver – a paramedic – and a medic, who was in the back, have been suspended.
It is alleged the driver had complained to his colleague that he was 15 minutes past the end of his duty and wanted to clock off.
He diverted to his depot and left without telling his replacement there was a critically sick patient being tended to in the back, according to a report by The News of The World.
Ambulance controllers took a call about Mr Asghar, who lived only three miles from North Tees Hospital, in Stockton, at 3.52pm on May 18. The crew, alerted to a category A life-threatening incident, reached Mr Asghar’s home at 3.57pm.
After assessing and stabilising him, they left for the hospital at 4.13pm – for a journey of about ten minutes. Instead, the driver headed to his depot to end his shift, meaning the patient did not arrive at North Tees Hospital until 4.27pm.
As soon as Mr Asghar got to A&E, doctors administered CPR, but were unable to save him. The delay was reported by the new driver.
Mr Asghar lived in Chalk Close with wife Fremeda, 57. Her son, Mohammed, 33, was furious. He said: “If you have a patient in an ambulance you don’t worry about your bloody shift finishing.
“The driver should not get away with it.” Stockton North MP Frank Cook said: “I am appalled. There needs to be a thorough investigation into the management of the North-East Ambulance Service.”
“How can a system be so lacking that something like this could happen. There should be a properly regulated handover at the start of each shift.”
A spokesman for the North-East Ambulance Service said: ‘‘We appointed a senior officer to carry out a full investigation and have notified the North-East Strategic Health Authority, Stockton Teaching Primary Care Trust, and the Health Professions Council of our actions.
‘‘We have also been in touch with the family of the patient to give them our condolences and to keep them updated on developments.
‘‘Patient care is our number one priority and we treat any action which falls short of the high standard expected of our staff extremely seriously.
‘‘This has led to a thorough investigation and the paramedic and advanced technician are now being dealt with in line with the trust’s disciplinary process.’’
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