Ambulance worker suspended after failing to respond to fatal heart attack call

Published on Tuesday 2 November 2010 13:30

AN AMBULANCE technician was suspended after he chose not to attend an emergency call to a heart attack patient because he was on a break, it was confirmed today.

The woman died after suffering cardiac arrest in Tomintoul, Moray.

The local on-duty technician did not respond to the 999 call on October 16 and paramedics from Grantown-on-Spey were dispatched instead.

The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) said an investigation was under way.

A spokesman said: "The ambulance technician on duty in Tomintoul was on a rest break and chose not to respond.

"An ambulance crew was dispatched from Grantown-on-Spey and arrived on scene within 21 minutes, followed by an air ambulance helicopter eight minutes later.

"Unfortunately, the patient did not survive the cardiac arrest and our thoughts are with her family at this difficult time."

The spokesman added: "The Scottish Ambulance Service has asked the Health Professions Council to consider the ambulance technician's decision-making and has suspended the individual whilst this consideration takes place."