Toni Skillington
31 Jul 2014 · Coroner ME Hassell · London North (Inner)
The coroner's concerns
1. methadone overdose not recognised in MPDS
“The Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS) does not include methadone as a one of the drug choices following an overdose, despite the fact that it is commonly taken in excess”
2. patient alone vulnerability
“The MPDS does not ask specifically whether the patient is alone, though it is recognised that this renders a patient particularly vulnerable”
3. inadequate welfare check follow up
“Two welfare checks were made via ring backs without any reply gained, yet neither of these was followed by the appropriate action”
4. delayed paramedic response to overdose
“London Ambulance Service received a call describing an intentional methadone overdose, taken with alcohol, and yet no paramedic responded until three hours later”
Responses
No published response was found on judiciary.uk.