A medical hearing has heard that a paramedic failed to diagnose heart failure in a patient, who died days after being admitted to a Black Country hospital.

Patrick Kelly, a West Midlands Ambulance Service paramedic, was sent on an emergency call to the 54-year-old’s home in the Walsall area, the Health Professions Council heard.

He was told that the patient, referred to as Mr B, was struggling to breathe and was suffering a panic attack. The paramedic allegedly failed to carry out basic examinations.

The hearing heard they would have revealed that the man was suffering from left ventricular failure.

The hearing was told the paramedic then failed to give the patient drugs which are used to treat heart failure, or to class him as an emergency during the ambulance journey to Manor Hospital.

Ms Gemma Giller, for the Health Professions Council, said the man’s wife, who was present, became increasingly worried about the care given by Mr Kelly just after midday on March 6, 2009.

“She became concerned at the registrant’s lack of signs of urgency,” said Ms Giller.

She said the paramedic should have used an electrocardiogram (ECG) to examine the man’s heart.

The hearing was told that when they arrived at the hospital the man was only rushed into a resuscitation room after a hospital ambulance liaison officer heard “bubbling” sounds and recognised the man was suffering heart failure. He died days later.

The patient’s widow did not attend yesterday’s hearing in London.

Ms Giller said: “She is still struggling with the circumstances surrounding the allegations.”

Mr Kelly denies the allegations. Mr Sam Oestreicher, representing him, said the man’s condition could have reasonably led Mr Kelly to believe he was suffering an asthma attack or chest infection.

The hearing continues.