Probe call on tragedy
The devastated wife of a Stafford man who died from a heart attack moments after a paramedic claimed he could have indigestion says the service needs investigating. The devastated wife of a Stafford man who died from a heart attack moments after a paramedic claimed he could have indigestion says the service needs investigating. Anne-Marie Kirkland says Staffordshire Ambulance Service has 'failed her family' after a paramedic told her husband Richard to take paracetamol and go the bed - despite him appearing to have symptoms of a heart attack. Minutes later, dad-of-three Richard, 36, of Parkside, climbed the stairs and collapsed and died in the bathroom. He had been suffering from chest pain, sickness, breathing difficulties and had shooting pains in his arms. Read the full story in the Express & Star
Anne-Marie Kirkland says Staffordshire Ambulance Service has 'failed her family' after a paramedic told her husband Richard to take paracetamol and go the bed - despite him appearing to have symptoms of a heart attack.
Minutes later, dad-of-three Richard, 36, of Parkside, climbed the stairs and collapsed and died in the bathroom. He had been suffering from chest pain, sickness, breathing difficulties and had shooting pains in his arms.
The medic who visited their Brackendale Drive home carried out an electrocardiograph (ECG) test and said Mr Kirkland possibly had a chest infection or even indigestion.
Mrs Kirkland, who has three children Tom 11, Will, nine and Daisy, three, says if her husband had been given oxygen and not walked up the stairs, his life could have been saved.
She says the ambulance service told her the paramedic in question has received 're-training' which she says is just not good enough.
She says she plans to take the matter further and has contacted the Healthcare Commission, which is currently carrying out an investigation into the trust.
John Addison, 53, a neighbour of the family, says he remembers seeing the paramedic car outside the Kirkland's home and then later an ambulance arriving. He said: "It was such a shock and obviously very tragic circumstances.."
Staffordshire Ambulance Service spokesman Bob Lee said the case was taken "most seriously" by the trust. He said: "I can confirm we had a complaint formally raised with us about this case.
"We kept the patient's widow fully informed as to what we were doing in relation to this complaint.
"An inquiry was held and she was made aware of all that came of that investigation. The paramedic involved is currently undergoing a period of re-training. Like any patient, if Mrs Kirkland is disatisfied with the response, she has the right to take it up with the NHS complaints procedure."
The Healthcare Commission is currently investigating the service following concerns raised about its operation by the West Midlands Strategic Health Authority (SHA). The inquiry is set to look at the Stafford-based service's clinical and managerial procedures to establish whether it has adequate systems in place to ensure the safety of patients.
