Decision report 201102718

Summary
Mr C complained that the Scottish Ambulance Service (the Service) transported his wife from their shower room to their bedroom by dragging her there on a blanket. Mr C said this was an unreasonable way to have moved her. Mr C also said that the lifting equipment which the Service brought with them was faulty.

Our investigation took into account all relevant documentation and we also sought advice from one of our medical advisers. The Service told us that the ambulance crew initially planned to use lifting equipment to move Mr C's wife, who was acutely ill. Given the restricted access in the shower room, however, they decided in consultation with the attending doctor that it would not be appropriate to use the equipment. With the help of the doctor and his driver, the crew, therefore, used a blanket to move Mr C's wife from the shower room to the bedroom. They explained that it was felt that this would be a quicker way of getting Mr C's wife into a more comfortable position before taking her to hospital. Taking account of all the information provided, we took the view that this decision appeared to have been reasonable based on the situation at the time and taking into account the best interests of Mr C's wife.

The Service were clear in their view that the lifting equipment was not faulty, but it was not possible for us to prove this one way or the other. We could not, therefore, say whether there had been a failing by the Service in this respect.