Caroline Pilkington
25 Mar 2014 · Coroner Jennifer Leeming · Manchester (West)
The coroner's concerns
1. lack of training in control and restraint techniques
“North West Ambulance Service personnel are not trained in control and 1 restraint techniques”
2. police handling clinically unwell patients
“calling the police in these circumstances results in patients who are physically and/or mentally unwell being dealt with by the police service, who, although they are trained in control and restraint techniques, are not clinically trained to deal with such patients”
3. delayed hospital removal causing patient harm
“potentially results in harm to patients being caused by delaying their removal to hospital”
Responses
2014-0269-Response-by-Department-of-Health2.pdf ↗· Department of Health and Social Care
2014-0269-Response-by-Department-of-Health.pdf ↗· Department of Health and Social Care
2014-0269-Response-by-Greater-Manchester-Police.pdf ↗· Department of Health and Social Care
Stated action
“my understanding is that paramedic staff must receive training in personal safety, which is a requirement through NHS Protect, and an obligation under health and safety at work responsibilities. However, the content of that training is not stipulated, and it is down to each service to determine the content and frequency of that training. | am unclear as to the extent to which their duty of care responsibilities are understood in relation to controlling and restraining patients. We find knowledge”
2014-0269-Response-by-North-West-Ambulance-Service.pdf ↗· North West Ambulance Service
Stated action · March 2012
“In March 2012 a joint protocol was developed, following consultation between the North West Region Police Forces and NWAS, which provides a framework to support inter-agency working and the appropriate use of resources to deliver the best possible care for patients who lack capacity.”