Heather Parkhill
PFD Report
Response Pending
Ref: 2026-0050
4 days left · 0 of 1 responded
Response Status
Responses
0 of 1
56-Day Deadline
30 Mar 2026
4 days left to respond
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Organisations named in PFD reports must respond within 56 days explaining what actions they are taking.
Source: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
Coroner’s Concerns
Category of Concern – Emergency Services Related Death
The MATTER OF CONCERN is as follows. –
For many years, myself and other coroners have raised concerns regarding so called “ambulance delays” and I recognise that the challenges faced by WAST around the availability of resources are the result of multifactorial issues, however problems regarding the unavailability of resources persist. I have a mandatory statutory responsibility to raise concerns where they exist and it is clear that lives continue to be lost as a result of this problem.
Despite all of the multi-agency efforts to improve the availability of resources and hence response times, nothing appears to change I therefore remain concerned that lives continue to be at risk
The MATTER OF CONCERN is as follows. –
For many years, myself and other coroners have raised concerns regarding so called “ambulance delays” and I recognise that the challenges faced by WAST around the availability of resources are the result of multifactorial issues, however problems regarding the unavailability of resources persist. I have a mandatory statutory responsibility to raise concerns where they exist and it is clear that lives continue to be lost as a result of this problem.
Despite all of the multi-agency efforts to improve the availability of resources and hence response times, nothing appears to change I therefore remain concerned that lives continue to be at risk
Report Sections
Investigation and Inquest
On the 9th of April 2025, I commenced an investigation into the death of Heather Louise Parkhill (DOB 8.8.85 DOD 8.4.25). The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on the 29th of January 2026. The cause of death was recorded as being due to 1(a) Fatty Liver Disease and the conclusion of the inquest was as follows:
Narrative Conclusion : Heather Parkhill was verified dead at her home on the morning of the 8th of April 2025, more than fifteen hours after an initial 999 call was made to seek assistance for her. Her death was the result of a terminal event arising from a condition associated with the chronic excessive consumption of alcohol, but it is probable that the death would have been prevented by earlier medical intervention, although none was available. The deceased's death was ultimately alcohol related but contributed to by neglect.
Narrative Conclusion : Heather Parkhill was verified dead at her home on the morning of the 8th of April 2025, more than fifteen hours after an initial 999 call was made to seek assistance for her. Her death was the result of a terminal event arising from a condition associated with the chronic excessive consumption of alcohol, but it is probable that the death would have been prevented by earlier medical intervention, although none was available. The deceased's death was ultimately alcohol related but contributed to by neglect.
Circumstances of the Death
The circumstances of the death are that at 20.41 on the 7th of April 2025 a 999 call was made seeking the assistance of the ambulance service to Mrs Parkhill, however there were no resources available for deployment at that time. A screening review was conducted at 21.27 which resulted in the erroneous downgrading of the priority of the call. Further calls were made seeking help on the morning of the 8th of April at 06.49, 07.04, 07.39, 08.33 and 09.37 however due to resource issues, no ambulance was able to attend during this period.
At 10.41 a final call resulted in the highest category priority and the first responder was on scene seven minutes later. Resuscitation efforts were discontinued around one hour later, more than fifteen hours after the first call for assistance.
Evidence was given to the inquest indicating that an earlier response (even 20-30 minutes earlier) would probably have prevented this death.
Coroner's Office, County Hall, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin, LL15 1YN Tel 01824 708047 |
At 10.41 a final call resulted in the highest category priority and the first responder was on scene seven minutes later. Resuscitation efforts were discontinued around one hour later, more than fifteen hours after the first call for assistance.
Evidence was given to the inquest indicating that an earlier response (even 20-30 minutes earlier) would probably have prevented this death.
Coroner's Office, County Hall, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin, LL15 1YN Tel 01824 708047 |
Inquest Conclusion
Narrative Conclusion : Heather Parkhill was verified dead at her home on the morning of the 8th of April 2025, more than fifteen hours after an initial 999 call was made to seek assistance for her. Her death was the result of a terminal event arising from a condition associated with the chronic excessive consumption of alcohol, but it is probable that the death would have been prevented by earlier medical intervention, although none was available. The deceased's death was ultimately alcohol related but contributed to by neglect.
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Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.