By Vicki Mathias
Bristol Evening Post
BRISTOL, England — A Bristol paramedic faces a professional hearing after he was accused of failing to handle the treatment of a heart attack patient appropriately.
Mike Page is due to appear at the London headquarters of the Health Professions Council (HPC) on Monday after allegations were made about his handling of the patient in Horfield.
The report to the regulatory body alleges that the Great Western Ambulance Service critical care paramedic, who works on the air support unit, called on a pilot to help out with resuscitation of the patient, despite claims that there were qualified clinical staff present.
Great Western Air Ambulance sends emergency doctors and specialist paramedics to some of the sickest and most seriously injured patients to provide accident and emergency level care at the scene. The team carries out procedures that traditional paramedics might not undertake before transporting patients.
It has been alleged that the critical care paramedic failed to bring the bag of drugs to the incident on May 5 2009.
In the allegation made to the HPC it has also been claimed that Mr Page delayed the transportation of the patient after he allegedly left a colleague to collect a doctor.
It has also been claimed that the paramedic “insisted” a clinical colleague leave the scene to collect the drug bag.
And it was claimed that Mr Page failed to notice when the patient began to “move, blink and gag” on equipment until a doctor pointed it out.
Mr Page will appear before the conduct and competence committee, who will determine whether his actions constituted misconduct.
At present he remains employed by GWAS, working on the air support unit, without restrictions to his duties.
A spokesman for the ambulance service said: “GWAS is aware of the case. He has continued to work for us on full operational duties since the alleged incident.”
The HPC would not comment further on the details of the case ahead of the hearing and the Post understands Mr Page has also been advised not to comment ahead of the hearing.
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