A student nurse who died last year after waiting five hours for an ambulance would probably “have survived” with earlier medical care, a coroner has ruled.
Lisa Day, 27, fell ill on 7 September 2015. The student nurse was a type 1 diabetic and was vomiting blood and complaining of a severe headache.
Her friend dialled NHS 111 at 5.30pm and a trained nurse assessed Lisa as needing an ambulance within 30 minutes.
But by 10pm the ambulance had still not arrived. An inquest has heard that on the day in question the London Ambulance Service was particularly busy, with 200 other calls also waiting for an ambulance.
Susan Watkins, head of quality assurance at London Ambulance Service, told the inquest that on that day only 30% of life-threatening emergencies were receiving an ambulance within eight minutes, which is the national target.
The ambulance eventually attended Lisa at 10.30pm, by which stage she had suffered a cardiac arrest. She was taken to the Royal Free Hospital but never regained consciousness. She died five days later.
“Completely let down”
The London Ambulance Service was recently put into special measures, having been described by chief inspector of hospitals Sir Mike Richards as “inadequate”.
Senior Coroner Mary Hassell recorded a narrative verdict at an inquest into Lisa’s death. She told St Pancras coroner’s court: “The reason for the…delay in an ambulance attending was because demand outstripped capacity.”
“If Lisa had received definitive hospital care before she suffered a cardiac arrest in the evening of September 7, the likelihood is she would have survived.”
Talking about her sister’s care, Katie Edwards said “she was completely let down.”
Ms Day, Lisa’s mother, said: “She should still be here. What can I say? It’s every mother’s nightmare.”
Speak to a solicitor
If you or your loved one has suffered because of unacceptable delays in medical care, please get in touch with us at Glynns Solicitors.
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