Paramedic Clocks Off + Patient Dies!

[paraffin]

The paramedic and colleague were being sent to a 999 call for a stroke victim but instead returned to the depot where one clocked off claiming it was the end of his shift.
The patient was eventually collected, taken to hospital in Stockton-On-Tees but died shortly afterwards.
Was the paramedic justified? Both he and his colleague have now been suspended.

[jno]

Their behaviour sounds way wrong. Got a link?

[DanAB]

sounds like the paramedic had other priorities rather than saving someones life. i hope it sits on his conscience for a long time.

[123everton]

Disgraceful

[marval]

Surely even if it is the end of your shift, when an emergency call comes in you take it. Rather slightly less time off and a life saved.

[Schutzengel]

Suspended !!! Both of them? According to the first report, one paramedic was in the back of the ambulance attending to the patient, so presumably it was the driver, who decided to go back to the depot to clock off. If so, he should be sacked, never mind suspended. If it was a joint decision they should both be sacked. How could any patient have any confidence that they would be properly looked after in the shortest possible time, while paramedics like this have the responsibilty for saving life. The whole episode is beyond belief.

[pink-kittens]

As with all thes types of stories, I suspect there is only some truth and a lot of sensationalism behind it.
I'm not saying that the man who died should not have been taken directly to the hospital before the driver clocked off, but it is possible that he was already dead when he did this, isn't it?
Can anyone really see someone clocking off when someone is dying; in any job, not just one as a paramedic? Maybe I'm seeing things through rose tinted glasses because I cannot believe anyone would be so heartless or be callous enough to do that
Lets see what the outcome of this is before we call for sackings

[Schutzengel]

The patient wasn't dead, he was being treated by the second paramedic, but died on arrival at the hospital.

[Ankou]

the driver should be sacked.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_styl e/health/article6452448.ece

[Schutzengel]

Sometimes it's a hard-hearted world, and this is the second incident of ambulance crews clocking off in the past couple of months, with dire results. They were sacked.

[pink-kittens]

according to the newspaper the patient wasn't dead - like i said sensatinalism
We don't know for sure - lets wait until we do before starting another witch hunt

[pink-kittens]

I've not read about the other one Schutzengel

[Schutzengel]

It was in Cheshire, in the local news.

[wolf63]

It is easy for us to pass judgement but without all the facts.

But if the situation is as reported then the driver should be punished.

[wendilla]

Agree they should both be sacked. I have been in Nursing all my life and there are very few times that I finished when I was supposed to .I have stayed over many a time to deal with things.

[Ankou]

pink, he went back to the ambulance station and clocked off leaving the vehicle in the bay, whilst a critically ill pateint was in the back.

ok, he might not have caused the death, but that is negligence and the driver should be punished.