By Marion Scott
The Sunday Mail
LANARKSHIRE, U.K. — The family of a disabled boy claims he died after a series of blunders by ambulance staff.
Graeme Jackson touched pop star Paolo Nutini’s heart when he met him in Rachel House Hospice.
But the muscular dystrophy sufferer died in an ambulance aged just 18 after developing a serious chest infection which caused breathing difficulties.
Now his family are considering suing the Scottish Ambulance Service after an independent report found a series of mistakes led to his death, almost three years ago.
The family say two NHS 24 doctors were called out separately over a weekend as his breathing worsened but refused to give him antibiotics.
On the Monday morning Graeme’s regular GP came to the family home in Carluke, Lanarkshire, and called an ambulance.
But the Jacksons say that because of a communications blunder the crew who arrived expected to deal with an 18-month-old baby. They also claim the crew failed to stabilise Graeme’s breathing while he was being taken to Wishaw General hospital.
His mum Mary, 45, said: “When Graeme became ill, we knew through many years’ experience that he needed an antibiotic immediately.
“But the doctors didn’t know his medical history and didn’t listen to us. When his own GP saw him, he knew right away Graeme needed help.
“He ordered an ambulance to take him to Wishaw General but when it arrived, the crew said they were expecting an 18-month-old baby, not an 18-year-old. They seemed completely taken aback.”
Mary claims the crew refused to allow her to travel in the ambulance with her son so she followed in her car.
She said: “When I arrived at Wishaw General, I was told Graeme was in resuscitation because he’d gone into cardiac arrest.
“They could not save him and I’m haunted by the fact that I’d always promised my boy I’d be by his side when he died.”
The family’s lawyer, Paul McHolland, of Ross Harper, said: “It has been accepted by the independent experts involved in this case that there were certain failings in how Graeme was dealt with.”
The ambulance service are also being sued over the case of Nikki Aitken, 15, who died in 2003 after suffering an epileptic fit and waiting 32 minutes for an ambulance.
Three vehicles sat at Ibrox football ground, within sight of the tragic teen’s house, while another answered the call from the family.
And war hero Ernie Rutkiewicz, 81, choked to death in November 2007 despite his distraught daughter Linda, 46, repeatedly calling 999.
Nearby crews failed to turn out as they were on a tea break.
MSP Jackie Baillie said: “It is Labour’s view that there should be a duty of care placed upon the ambulance service to ensure we get the best outcome for patients.”
NHS Lanarkshire said: “We have met with Mr and Mrs Jackson to discuss their concerns about the care Graeme received from the NHS Lanarkshire out-of-hours service.
“We are also providing a full response to the issues they raised.”
The Scottish Ambulance Service said: “We have visited the Jacksons to discuss the care their son received and to express our sympathy.”
Copyright 2009 Scottish Daily Record & Sunday Mail Ltd.