14. Ms U tells us she was already deeply distressed and was unprepared for the film crew’s arrival. She says this added to her distress and paramedics wasted time by asking for her consent to film, rather than seeing to her mother.
15. The Trust says the film crew were working with its paramedics to record the pressures on the service and the challenges faced by its crews. It said Ms U was told on arrival that there was a film crew and she consented to filming. It adds that the film crew’s director decided it was not appropriate to film.
16. The Trust also says there was no delay in paramedics helping Ms H on arrival.
17. Paramedics arrived at the house at 7am. They had to enter through a window because the door was locked. After getting consent for filming they attended to Ms H. They completed their first checks and by 7.10am had done an electrocardiogram (ECG is a test to check the heart rhythm). Sadly, it found Mrs H had died.
18. JRCALC guidance explains how paramedics should assess a patient and what action they should take in response. It says they should complete initial airway, breathing and circulation (ABC) checks when first assessing a patient. This involves checking the patient’s airway for blockages, checking their breathing and their circulation.
19. JRCALC guidance says paramedics should take an ECG reading if there are any concerns about a patient’s heart function. Our adviser explained the ECG would only take place after the initial checks are done. We would not expect an ECG to be done straight away.
20. These tests were done in line with JRCALC’s ROLE guidance. The guidance gives information and advice to ambulance staff when managing the diagnosis of patients whose heart has stopped beating.
21. It explains when resuscitation may or may not be suitable, depending on the condition of the patient. We have seen evidence in the records to suggest paramedics correctly assessed Ms H and decided resuscitation was not appropriate.
22. Based on the evidence we have seen, there is nothing to suggest paramedics delayed in attending to Ms H. After arriving it took them ten minutes to enter the property, do their initial checks and complete an ECG.
23. We appreciate Ms U was not expecting a film crew and this added to her distress. We think the situation was managed well and it did not cause a delay in treatment.
24. The Trust acted in line with our Principles, that say: ‘Public bodies must act in accordance with recognised quality standards, established good practice or both, for example about clinical care.’
25. We have decided to take no further action in Ms U’s complaint.
26. We saw some extra information which may help to resolve Ms U’s concerns. Evidence shows Ms H likely died before paramedics arrived. Sadly, it is unlikely that paramedics could have done anymore.
27. We understand these events were extremely traumatic and Ms U and her family continue to be affected by their experience. We hope our statement gives them some reassurance.