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Body 'left near bins' in Ely claim prompts ambulance apology Body 'left near bins' in Ely claim prompts ambulance apology
(about 3 hours later)
An ambulance service has apologised after claims a body was left lying next to dustbins overnight at a station. An ambulance service has apologised after claims crew members left a body lying unattended next to bins at a station when their shift finished.
The body is believed to be that of James Harrison, 32, who was found in Ponts Hill in Littleport, Cambridgeshire on 24 September.The body is believed to be that of James Harrison, 32, who was found in Ponts Hill in Littleport, Cambridgeshire on 24 September.
The alleged incident involved the East of England Ambulance Service in Ely.The alleged incident involved the East of England Ambulance Service in Ely.
Chief executive Anthony Marsh said the trust was "very sorry for what happened" and had started a "thorough investigation". Chief executive Anthony Marsh said the trust was "very sorry for what happened".
Although the service apologised, it refused to confirm the claims or say exactly what it was apologising for.Although the service apologised, it refused to confirm the claims or say exactly what it was apologising for.
'Fairly disgraceful' However, Dr Marsh said the ambulance service had begun a "thorough investigation" and was "working with the family and everyone who responded to the patient".
However, Dr Marsh said the ambulance service was "working with the family and everyone who responded to the patient".
The body of Mr Harrison, of Hardwicke Close in Littleport was found in the street near Littleport fire station at about 05:00 BST.The body of Mr Harrison, of Hardwicke Close in Littleport was found in the street near Littleport fire station at about 05:00 BST.
Following a post-mortem examination, Cambridgeshire Police confirmed his death was not being treated as suspicious and the case was passed to the coroner.Following a post-mortem examination, Cambridgeshire Police confirmed his death was not being treated as suspicious and the case was passed to the coroner.
A full inquest will open on 14 January. A full inquest will resume on 14 January.
His mother Diane Harrison told the BBC she did not wish to comment on the claims. The Ely Standard first reported claims the body was left near bins after being contacted by a "whistleblower".
Mr Harrison's mother Diane told the BBC she did not wish to comment on the claims.
An ambulance service spokesman confirmed its investigation involved "the transportation of a deceased patient", but said he could not comment further as inquiries were ongoing.An ambulance service spokesman confirmed its investigation involved "the transportation of a deceased patient", but said he could not comment further as inquiries were ongoing.
The East of England Ambulance Service Trust has come in for criticism in the past for poor response times, and in August was fined £1.2m for failing to meet some of its targets.The East of England Ambulance Service Trust has come in for criticism in the past for poor response times, and in August was fined £1.2m for failing to meet some of its targets.
'Completely unacceptable'
Its chief executive's salary and expenses claims have also recently come under the spotlight.Its chief executive's salary and expenses claims have also recently come under the spotlight.
Sir Graham Bright, the police and crime commissioner for Cambridgeshire said the latest incident involving transporting the man's body "sounds a fairly disgraceful thing to have happened".Sir Graham Bright, the police and crime commissioner for Cambridgeshire said the latest incident involving transporting the man's body "sounds a fairly disgraceful thing to have happened".
"Obviously it's got to be investigated and whoever is responsible for that has got to be held to account," he said."Obviously it's got to be investigated and whoever is responsible for that has got to be held to account," he said.
'Completely unacceptable'
The Conservative MP for North East Cambridgeshire, Stephen Barclay, said he was "deeply concerned" by the claims.The Conservative MP for North East Cambridgeshire, Stephen Barclay, said he was "deeply concerned" by the claims.
"It's obviously distressing to hear that a deceased person's been treated in this way," he said."It's obviously distressing to hear that a deceased person's been treated in this way," he said.
"I very much welcome the apology from the ambulance service trust but we do need to get to the bottom of whether this was an isolated incident or whether there have been other occasions where bodies have been treated in this completely unacceptable way." "I very much welcome the apology from the ambulance service trust but we do need to get to the bottom of whether this was an isolated incident, or whether there have been other occasions where bodies have been treated in this completely unacceptable way."
The claims were published in the Wisbech Standard after a "whistleblower" approached the newspaper. Correction: This story has been amended to remove reference to the length of time the body was left. The BBC has been unable to verify the exact timeframe.