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Victor Bede: New Year drug-death ambulance delay 'regrettable' Victor Bede: New Year drug-death ambulance delay 'regrettable'
(about 14 hours later)
A man who died after London Ambulance Service's computer system crashed on New Year's Day should have had a quicker response, an inquest heard.A man who died after London Ambulance Service's computer system crashed on New Year's Day should have had a quicker response, an inquest heard.
But the death of Victor Bede, who collapsed early on 1 January after taking drugs, was ultimately not preventable, a coroner concluded. The coroner said it is not possible to know if receiving treatment earlier would have saved Victor Bede, who died on 1 January after taking drugs.
Dr Shirley Radcliffe recorded a verdict of death by methamphetamine poisoning.Dr Shirley Radcliffe recorded a verdict of death by methamphetamine poisoning.
Ambulance bosses apologised to Mr Bede's family and described the delay in reaching him as "regrettable".Ambulance bosses apologised to Mr Bede's family and described the delay in reaching him as "regrettable".
Sue Watkins, head of quality assurance at Ambulance Service, told Westminster Coroner's Court, of two major factors contributing to delays in reaching the 53-year-old.Sue Watkins, head of quality assurance at Ambulance Service, told Westminster Coroner's Court, of two major factors contributing to delays in reaching the 53-year-old.
These were exceptional volume of calls on New Year's Eve and a computer failure that meant reliance on paper operations.These were exceptional volume of calls on New Year's Eve and a computer failure that meant reliance on paper operations.
"Victor should have had a response sooner", she said."Victor should have had a response sooner", she said.
Mr Bede was seen staggering around and walking into traffic before falling and banging his head outside the Sainsbury's Local on Queensway, the inquest was told.Mr Bede was seen staggering around and walking into traffic before falling and banging his head outside the Sainsbury's Local on Queensway, the inquest was told.
A pub landlord called 999 but emergency services took 48 minutes to arrive due to pressure on call handlers and emergency crews on their busiest night of the year.A pub landlord called 999 but emergency services took 48 minutes to arrive due to pressure on call handlers and emergency crews on their busiest night of the year.
Blood tests showed Mr Bede had taken seven times the recreational use level of methamphetamine (crystal meth).Blood tests showed Mr Bede had taken seven times the recreational use level of methamphetamine (crystal meth).
'No cure''No cure'
Questions were raised whether Mr Bede could have been saved if an ambulance had arrived at an earlier stage.Questions were raised whether Mr Bede could have been saved if an ambulance had arrived at an earlier stage.
The coroner said he was treated by an advanced paramedic and that there was no cure or treatment for methamphetamine poisoning. The inquest heard he was treated by an advanced paramedic and that there was no cure or treatment for methamphetamine poisoning.
Dr Radcliffe concluded all that could have been done was the monitoring and management of the patient. The coroner was told all that could have been done was the monitoring and management of the patient.
The coroner added that only 9% of patients are successfully resuscitated when they have a cardiac arrest - and that did not factor in methamphetamine poisoning - which would significantly lower the chances. The inquest was told only 9% of patients are successfully resuscitated when they have a cardiac arrest - and that did not factor in methamphetamine poisoning - which would significantly lower the chances.