Shock Arrests After Two-Year Probe
Two ambulance staff have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following a two-year investigation into six adult deaths in england/south-west/%%UKNIP_ANCHOR_0%%/south-west/wiltshire/”>wiltshire/”>Wiltshire. The pair, a male paramedic and a 59-year-old emergency care assistant (ECA), are accused of leaving seriously ill patients at home instead of rushing them to hospital.
Sources reveal the duo allegedly fiddled with the patient observation system to make it look like patients were %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_1%%well enough to be left behind, allowing them to quit 999 call-outs early.
Charges Laid: Neglect and Manslaughter
- The paramedic faces six counts of gross negligence manslaughter plus four counts of ill-treatment or willful neglect.
- The emergency care assistant is charged with gross negligence manslaughter.
Both worked for South Western Ambulance Service, an organisation already marred by historic bullying and harassment claims.
They have been released on bail while police continue their investigations.
Internal Chaos and Police Raids
The probe kicked off after concerns were raised to Wiltshire Police in 2023. Detective Chief Inspector Phil %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_2%% said the cases involve "several adult deaths" and confirmed the arrests.
In June last year, plainclothes officers raided the paramedic's home with sniffer dogs, leading to his suspension and eventual dismissal. The ECA was arrested earlier this year and also suspended.
South Western Ambulance Service called the incident "isolated" and assured the public there is no ongoing risk to patients.
How the System Was Allegedly Manipulated
Sources say the pair tampered with the electronic patient record (EPR) system—used to log vital clinical notes and observations—to wrongly classify patients as %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_3%%well, so they could leave call-outs prematurely.
"These were sick patients who needed to be taken to hospital. Why they supposedly did this, whether out of arrogance to get home early or sheer laziness, is not yet clear," said a source close to the investigation.
Ongoing Investigation and Public Reassurance
The ambulance trust stated:
"As soon as concerns arose, we launched an investigation and referred the matter to police. The suspended staff were immediately relieved of duties. We reassure the public this is an isolated incident and urge everyone to continue calling 999 in emergencies."
Wiltshire Police declined further comment to protect the ongoing inquiry, stressing the importance of respecting victim families' privacy. DCI %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_4%% added their focus remains on uncovering the facts.
South Western Ambulance's Troubled Record
The trust was rated "Good" by the Care Quality Commission in 2022, with care rated "Outstanding." However, emergency response services were flagged for improvement. One station was infamously nicknamed the "Mafia Station" following claims of bullying and harassment.
This disturbing case raises fresh concerns about ambulance service safety and staff conduct in the NHS. %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_5%%
