Women with type 1 diabetes died after five-hour ambulance delay

[DCUK NewsBot]

A student nurse with type 1 diabetes who died after waiting five hours for an ambulance could have survived if she had reached hospital faster, an inquest has heard. Lisa Day, 27, had type 1 diabetes and became extremely ill last September. Her friend Luke Halliburton called the NHS 111 service when Ms. Day began vomiting blood at his house. An ambulance was requested shortly after 5pm. The ambulance had still not arrived by 10pm, and Miss Day's condition had deteriorated. She had suffered a heart attack and was eventually found by paramedics unconscious on a bed. Ms. Day died in the Royal Free Hospital five days later from lack of oxygen to the brain. She had experienced diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a dangerous short-term complication which occurs when the body has insufficient insulin to allow glucose to enter cells. As a result, Miss Day's blood glucose levels rose dangerously high. DKA is a serious medical emergency, and requires urgent treatment. Aicha Daidai, an NHS 111 call handler told St Pancras Coroner's Court that the computer systems were down at the time of Mr. Halliburton's call, so made an assessment on paper. Ms. Day was assessed as DX012, meaning that an ambulance should have arrived within 30 minutes. But the London Ambulance Service was struggling to cope with "extreme demand" at the time. Coroner Mary Hassell said: "The reason for the approximate four-and-a-half hour delay in an ambulance attending was because demand outstripped capacity. "If Lisa had received definitive hospital care before she suffered a cardiac arrest in the evening of September 7, the likelihood is she would have survived." Speaking after the inquest, Ms. Day's mother Doreen Proud said: "She should still be here. What can I say? It's every mother's nightmare." The inquest continues.

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[Robinredbreast]

Such a sad story, the family must be heartbroken and devastated by what has happened

 

[tigger]

Really shocking, especially as that's my nearest hospital

 

[eddie1968]

Negligence.

 

[Lamont D]

Bloody Tories!

Not enough staff, on the front lines!

Shocking this should happen in the capital of the eight richest country in the world. In the 21st century.

The wife's father, had to wait five hours in severe pain (pneumonia) just before Christmas. Because of a shortage of beds, because of ward closures, because of not enough staff, not enough beds because, those who could be released from beds couldn't because of the lack of care away from hospitals. So ambulance personnel can't leave patients unless they are admitted.
All because the cuts have to be made somewhere. So why not kill a few people, to lighten the load at point of triage!
The father spent another threes days in New Year, with same complaint, never did recover properly, and my son took him to the hospital. Through A&E.