Decision report 201203582

Summary

Mrs C complained about the professionalism of an ambulance crew who had attended her late husband about a year before. She said that the crew refused to allow her husband to take a case with him in the ambulance or to allow a family member to travel with him. The family was also told to wait an hour before attending the hospital.

The board explained that due to the time that had elapsed since the incident, the crew could not recall what was actually said. The board, however, accepted that there must have been a failing in the way the crew communicated to the family. As a result the crew had been reminded of their responsibilities and that their actions could be interpreted differently from what they intended. We found that the board had conducted a thorough investigation, including interviewing appropriate staff, and we took the view that it was unlikely that further consideration of the matter would achieve more for Mrs C.