Gary Page died after a series of failures by a private ambulance crew, dispatched by the East of England Ambulance Service
A widow whose husband died after a private ambulance crew failed to spot he was having a heart attack is suing an ambulance trust.
The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust has apologised to Kim Page for the death of her husband Gary after an investigation uncovered a series of failures.
The leader of the crew was described as ‘complacent’ for not acting on the concerns of a more junior colleague.
Mr Page, 54, died at home in February, 12 hours after the pains in his chest and arm were dismissed as possible signs of heartburn, indigestion or a pulled muscle.
Last month a coroner found there had been serious failings in Mr Page’s care.
Mrs Page is now taking civil action against East of England Ambulance Service and Private Ambulance Service Ltd for damages, according to the BBC.
The couple were relaxing at home in Laindon in Essex when Mr Page had pains in his chest and right arm.
They dialled 111 after checking the symptoms online.
‘Gary was on his hands and knees on the sofa speaking to 111. He was able to talk but he was obviously in discomfort,’ she said.
The ambulance trust dispatched a team at the second highest level.
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But because they were busy, they sent a private ambulance team which did not have a paramedic on board.
It meant the most senior member of the crew was an emergency technician called Lauren de la Haye who had only received her qualification certificate a few days before, the BBC reports.
She had practised as an emergency medic under supervision for several years.
The inquest heard the technician had misread an electrocardiogram and wrongly concluded that Mr Page was not in the early stages of a heart attack.
She ignored the concerns of a more junior colleague, Darren Rudge, who believed the ECG reading meant Mr Page needed to be in hospital.
His widow, Kim Page, pictured on their wedding day, is now taking civil action against East of England Ambulance Service and Private Ambulance Service Ltd following Mr Page’s death
Mrs Page said Ms de la Haye told her husband: ‘It is definitely not your heart, you are definitely not having a heart attack.’
He was told there would be a 10 hour wait for someone to see him at hospital and Mr Page signed a form to say the team had been and that he agreed not to go.
Despite efforts to save him, Mr Page died the following morning – 10 hours after his symptoms started.
A serious incident report commissioned by the East of England ambulance service found a number of failures.
De La Haye has been retrained in the correct reading of an ECG and the private contractor’s performance monitored more closely than before as a result of the death.
Ms de la Haye did not attend the inquest as she was unwell but did tell the BBC that an ECG could be difficult to interpret for a technician, and that Mr Page was advised to seek further help, which he did not do.
She said the couple fully understood what they were agreeing to when signing the transport waiver.
An inquest in to Mr Page’s death found there had been ‘serious failings’ by the ambulance trust
She is now a student on another medical course.
In response to Mr Page’s death, the rules for private ambulance crew have been clarified by the trust.
Any medic below paramedic level must either take a patient to a hospital, or phone the clinical advice line at East of England Ambulance Service if a patient is to be discharged.
The trust, which covers Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, has been embroiled in a series of scandals.
In May it emerged that bosses were being given Jaguars and BMWs at a cost of £454,000 a year in lease payments.
Other controversies include failing to hit targets to answer urgent calls and spending £247,406 on public relations in 2013-2014, more than any other ambulance service.
There have also been threats of strikes over staff shortages.
The trust has paid out £6million in redundancy payments to senior employees over the past two years.
An East of England Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We offer our condolences to Mr Page’s family on their loss, and offer a formal apology for not providing the patient with the care which was expected.
‘In our investigation with Private Ambulance Service of the circumstances surrounding his death, it was identified that the seriousness of Mr Page’s condition was not recognised and further advice not sought.
‘Actions taken away from the investigation have been to ensure all non-EEAST staff know the correct clinical processes such as using an advice line if they make a decision not to convey to hospital, and a period of enhanced inspection of the ambulance service involved as well as well providers.’