Trainee who ignored 999 call 'won't work in the area again'

AMBULANCE bosses yesterday told angry villagers an ambulance worker will never work in the area again after he ignored a 999 call for a woman who later died because he was on a teabreak.

A clear-the-air meeting was arranged between residents in Tomintoul in Moray and Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) chief executive Pauline Howie and chairman David Garbutt to discuss the sensitive issue.

Feelings have been running high in the village since Mandy Mathieson, 33, died from a heart attack just 800 yards from the ambulance station last October.

The station had received an emergency call, but the technician on duty, trainee Owen McLachlan, was on a rest break and did not respond. Another ambulance was sent from Grantown-on-Spey, arriving in 21 minutes, followed by an air ambulance eight minutes later, but could not save Ms Mathieson.

Mr McLachlan was suspended from duty, but was reinstated recently with an order to undergo further training. The SAS said he will "not work in Tomintoul again".

More than 100 residents, including Ms Mathieson's brother, Charles, attended yesterday's meeting and demanded a change to the policy which entitles ambulance crews to take an undisturbed 30-minute break. Staff that choose to opt out receive an extra annual payment of 250 and about 5 every time they are disturbed. The meeting heard the system was introduced across the UK in 2006, although crews in other parts of the country can be paid up to 1,800 to opt out.

Mr Garbutt apologised for the incident in which Ms Mathieson died and told the meeting: "We are desperately trying to make changes to that system which is not entirely appropriate for an emergency service." He said it was not possible to "wave a magic wand" and alter the system immediately, but talks are continuing with the Scottish and UK governments.

However, some residents said they were still not reassured. One man asked the officials: "How many more people are going to die before there are changes? One is obviously not enough."

Another said: "Fire brigade, air sea rescue and mountain rescue teams would not stop and have a sticky bun and a cup of tea while someone was dying. Three minutes without breathing results in death. A sticky bun: is it worth it?"