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Heart attack paramedic struck off | Heart attack paramedic struck off |
(about 6 hours later) | |
A paramedic who told a heart attack patient she was having a panic attack has been struck off. | A paramedic who told a heart attack patient she was having a panic attack has been struck off. |
Stephen Powderhill was aware the woman, identified only as MD, had chest pains and was breathless before he arrived at her Cardiff home. | Stephen Powderhill was aware the woman, identified only as MD, had chest pains and was breathless before he arrived at her Cardiff home. |
He failed to diagnose a heart attack and treated her for diarrhoea and sickness, a Health Professions Council (HPC) hearing was told. | He failed to diagnose a heart attack and treated her for diarrhoea and sickness, a Health Professions Council (HPC) hearing was told. |
The panel, which sat in Cardiff, found Mr Powderhill guilty of misconduct. | The panel, which sat in Cardiff, found Mr Powderhill guilty of misconduct. |
The woman, who has Type 2 diabetes, said she was so distressed by Mr Powderhill's behaviour she insisted her husband drive her to hospital himself when she experienced similar pains the following week. | The woman, who has Type 2 diabetes, said she was so distressed by Mr Powderhill's behaviour she insisted her husband drive her to hospital himself when she experienced similar pains the following week. |
MD said she had pains to her arms and chest when Mr Powderhill and his colleague arrived, but told the HPC panel: "He told me to calm down. He thought I was having a panic attack. | MD said she had pains to her arms and chest when Mr Powderhill and his colleague arrived, but told the HPC panel: "He told me to calm down. He thought I was having a panic attack. |
"He said everything would calm down if I relaxed a bit." | "He said everything would calm down if I relaxed a bit." |
I found it more distressing than having a heart attack, the experience I went through Patient identified as MD | I found it more distressing than having a heart attack, the experience I went through Patient identified as MD |
Mr Powderhill, who did not attend the hearing on Tuesday, was trained to give a clot-busting drug but did not administer it to the woman, HPC representative Julie Norris said. | Mr Powderhill, who did not attend the hearing on Tuesday, was trained to give a clot-busting drug but did not administer it to the woman, HPC representative Julie Norris said. |
The patient, in her mid-50s, was told to "cover up" as she walked to the ambulance in a flimsy nightdress, the hearing at Cardiff's Holiday Inn was told. | |
She was then driven to the nearby University Hospital of Wales without a seatbelt on. | She was then driven to the nearby University Hospital of Wales without a seatbelt on. |
The only medical check Mr Powderhill carried out on her was a blood glucose level test, the hearing was told. | The only medical check Mr Powderhill carried out on her was a blood glucose level test, the hearing was told. |
MD said: "He spoke to me like I was a little girl. I was distressed at the time." | MD said: "He spoke to me like I was a little girl. I was distressed at the time." |
Asked why she failed to call an ambulance on the second occasion, MD replied: "Because I didn't want another episode. I just didn't have any faith in them. | Asked why she failed to call an ambulance on the second occasion, MD replied: "Because I didn't want another episode. I just didn't have any faith in them. |
"I relive it every Saturday morning. I found it more distressing than having a heart attack, the experience I went through." | "I relive it every Saturday morning. I found it more distressing than having a heart attack, the experience I went through." |
Her husband, identified only as SD, made an official complaint to the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust after the incident in July 2006. | Her husband, identified only as SD, made an official complaint to the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust after the incident in July 2006. |
Describing Mr Powderhill's behaviour, he said: "He just didn't want to be there. There was just no urgency at all. | Describing Mr Powderhill's behaviour, he said: "He just didn't want to be there. There was just no urgency at all. |
"He just seemed he couldn't care. His diagnosis was completely wrong. He seemed arrogant towards my wife. | "He just seemed he couldn't care. His diagnosis was completely wrong. He seemed arrogant towards my wife. |
"I felt as if he had a bad morning, or a bad night. I didn't realise he had just come on a shift." | "I felt as if he had a bad morning, or a bad night. I didn't realise he had just come on a shift." |
Incorrect diagnosis | Incorrect diagnosis |
Christopher Moore, who investigated the case for the HPC, said Mr Powderhill's failure to give even "basic oxygen" was "disappointing". | Christopher Moore, who investigated the case for the HPC, said Mr Powderhill's failure to give even "basic oxygen" was "disappointing". |
In a letter submitted to the HPC, Mr Powderhill admitted he made "a mistake". | In a letter submitted to the HPC, Mr Powderhill admitted he made "a mistake". |
The panel found him guilty of misconduct, saying he failed to take equipment from the ambulance to treat MD, did not give her a full assessment or proper treatment and did not give her oxygen. | The panel found him guilty of misconduct, saying he failed to take equipment from the ambulance to treat MD, did not give her a full assessment or proper treatment and did not give her oxygen. |
He also failed to help her to the ambulance, did not alert the hospital to her arrival and gave an incorrect diagnosis to a triage nurse, delaying the woman's treatment. | He also failed to help her to the ambulance, did not alert the hospital to her arrival and gave an incorrect diagnosis to a triage nurse, delaying the woman's treatment. |
Panel chairwoman Clare Reggiori said Mr Powderhill's behaviour had such serious potential consequences for future patients that striking him off the register was the only option. | Panel chairwoman Clare Reggiori said Mr Powderhill's behaviour had such serious potential consequences for future patients that striking him off the register was the only option. |
He was given 28 days to appeal against the decision. |
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