Paramedic banned for life after not helping patient who collapsed at Walsall Manor Hospital after heart attack

Carl Cope, aged 47, died after suffering a fatal heart attack in the hospital's car park in 2012.

Paramedic Andrew Davies allegedly stood by as Mr Cope died and he was sacked from WMAS as well as having criminal charges brought against him.

The criminal charges were later dropped but this month he was struck off the Health and Care Professionals Council register meaning he can no longer work as a paramedic.

An HCPC panel in London heard how there was a period of between six and nine minutes where Mr Davies would have been able to see Mr Cope on the ground but did not take action.

A report from the hearing added: "The panel viewed the CCTV footage of the incident. It read the statements which were gathered from colleagues after the incident by the investigating officer. It heard and had the opportunity to question the HCPC witnesses.

"This evidence all indicates to the panel that the registrant had sight of patient A whilst he was collapsed on the ground of the Walsall Manor Hospital car park and did not take 'any action', as identified in the particular, to provide care to this patient.

"The panel therefore accept that for a period of between 6 and 9 minutes the registrant had been able to see patient A on the ground. During this time he was able to take action independent of colleague C."

When dismissing Mr Davies, the panel said there was 'insufficient evidence' that he had 'gained meaningful insight into his failings' and that he had not been able to demonstrate that there would be no repetition of his failings.

The chair of the panel, Naseem Malik, said: "Mr Davies' failure to act was conduct falling far below that expected by the public, his profession, and fellow practitioners. There is, in the panel's view, insufficient evidence that Mr Davies has gained meaningful insight into his failings. In the absence of such insight there remains a likelihood of repetition of the misconduct.

"The panel has therefore concluded that there is insufficient evidence that the registrant has identified his failings, taken appropriate action to remedy those failings nor has he been able to demonstrate that there will be no repetition of his failings."

Mr Davies's colleague, Matthew Geary, was handed an eight month suspended sentence for his role in the incident. He was described as 'callous' and 'uncaring' by a judge but was not struck off the HCPC register and is free to return to work as a paramedic.