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Paramedic suspended after life support machine blunder | Paramedic suspended after life support machine blunder |
(1 day later) | |
A paramedic who failed to ventilate a tetraplegic, whose life support machine had been switched off, has been suspended for a year. | |
Neil Crawford, who worked for Great Western Ambulance Service (GWAS), was disciplined by the Health Professions Council for failing to act properly. | Neil Crawford, who worked for Great Western Ambulance Service (GWAS), was disciplined by the Health Professions Council for failing to act properly. |
He treated Jamie Merrett at his home in Devizes in January 2009 after his life support was turned off by his carer. | He treated Jamie Merrett at his home in Devizes in January 2009 after his life support was turned off by his carer. |
Mr Merrett, 38, suffered serious brain damage after the incident. | Mr Merrett, 38, suffered serious brain damage after the incident. |
He had been left paralysed after a car crash, and had set up a bedside camera at his home in Wiltshire because he had become concerned about the care he was receiving. | He had been left paralysed after a car crash, and had set up a bedside camera at his home in Wiltshire because he had become concerned about the care he was receiving. |
His carer, Violetta Aylward, an agency nurse working for the NHS, was filmed switching off her patient's life support machine. | |
'Failures' | 'Failures' |
CCTV footage of the incident, which also showed the arrival of paramedics, was used in evidence during the two-day hearing. | CCTV footage of the incident, which also showed the arrival of paramedics, was used in evidence during the two-day hearing. |
A disciplinary panel found that Mr Crawford failed to conduct an Airway, Breathing and Circulation (ABC) assessment of the patient when he first arrived at the scene. | A disciplinary panel found that Mr Crawford failed to conduct an Airway, Breathing and Circulation (ABC) assessment of the patient when he first arrived at the scene. |
It also found he failed to provide the patient with oxygen, and that he falsely informed the air support paramedics that he was unable to obtain a radial pulse when he never attempted to do so. | It also found he failed to provide the patient with oxygen, and that he falsely informed the air support paramedics that he was unable to obtain a radial pulse when he never attempted to do so. |
Mr Merrett is now being looked after at a care home in Somerset. Ms Aylward is waiting to hear if she will face disciplinary action next year. | Mr Merrett is now being looked after at a care home in Somerset. Ms Aylward is waiting to hear if she will face disciplinary action next year. |
Following the ruling, spokesman for GWAS, John Oliver, said: "The welfare and appropriate care of our patients is always our main priority. | Following the ruling, spokesman for GWAS, John Oliver, said: "The welfare and appropriate care of our patients is always our main priority. |
"Following this incident in January 2009, the trust became aware that the paramedic who was first on scene failed to provide the level of care demanded of a professionally registered clinician and subsequently provided inaccurate and misleading information to the resulting investigation. | "Following this incident in January 2009, the trust became aware that the paramedic who was first on scene failed to provide the level of care demanded of a professionally registered clinician and subsequently provided inaccurate and misleading information to the resulting investigation. |
"The individual was initially suspended by the trust and, following an internal investigation and disciplinary process, he was subsequently dismissed. | "The individual was initially suspended by the trust and, following an internal investigation and disciplinary process, he was subsequently dismissed. |
"We also notified the Health Professions Council, resulting in this week's hearing." | "We also notified the Health Professions Council, resulting in this week's hearing." |
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