Ambulance trust in ‘cover-up of blunders linked to 90 deaths’

an aMBULanCe trust covered up damning evidence about the deaths of more than 90 patients, it has been claimed.

Managers at the north east ambulance service (neas) filtered out facts from reports to present cases more positively, meaning that grieving families and coroners were allegedly unable to learn the full truth.

in the case of 17-year-old Quinn evie Beadle, a report is said to have been altered to remove reference to a paramedic mistakenly failing to attempt to resuscitate her after she hanged herself.

a claim that any life support offered would ‘not have had a positive outcome’ was inserted. in another case, 62-year-old Peter Coates died after his oxygen machine cut out, with nHs leaders apparently withholding evidence explaining a 34-minute delay in attending his home. the allegations, which were reported in the sunday times, come from whistleblowers, who say they were bullied and offered non-disclosure agreements.

tracey Beadle, the mother of Miss Beadle, said she believed the trust had lied, stating: ‘they just covered it up and covered it up. You just can’t believe that a service that’s supposed to look after people could lie to you like that.’

the tragedy involving Miss Beadle led her parents’ only other child, 21-year-old son dyllon, to take his own life while at university in Manchester.

the deaths, in 2018 and 2019, were when staff at neas – which covers a large area from Berwick-upon-tweed – apparently began to complain that documents on emergency call-outs were being withheld or changed.

in the second case, managers allegedly withheld evidence of a decision by paramedics to refuel on their way to Mr Coates after he called for an ambulance on March 14, 2019, when a power cut stopped his oxygen machine from working.

By the time the crew arrived – 34 minutes after the 999 call – Mr Coates had died.

a coroner is claimed not to have been made aware of the delay, and an internal investigaFord, tion by the neas found the ambulance had sufficient fuel to complete the journey.

Mr Coates’s family were apparently kept in the dark about many details of his case, with his daughter Kellie Coates, 46, saying: ‘this is information that should have been made public, and should have been known to us, to the family. i’m quite angry it was hidden.’ ann of the Care Quality Commission, said it received concerns from a member of staff about attempts by the trust to withhold information in 2020.

she added: ‘a thorough review of this information found no evidence that the trust had tried to withhold information from the coroner, and also found that they had taken action to improve governance processes and ensure an effective coronial process.’

Helen ray, chief executive of neas, said the trust accepted there were historical failings and that it had listened and acted on concerns raised.

she added: ‘Utmost in our mind are the families and we unreservedly apologise for the distress we have caused.

‘We have reaudited our process, have discussed with coroners and with the CQC and have embedded regular reviews to ensure these issues cannot reoccur.

‘We are confident that the system in place is robust.’

‘Angry that it was hidden’