Recurance · prevention of future deaths reports
Pre-inquest brief
Inadequate paramedic ECG interpretation training
The earlier warning
Rex Hall · 29 Nov 2016 · Emma Brown, Birmingham and Solihull
“one of the paramedics who qualified in 2015 after a 2 year foundation degree gave evidence that he had never had any formal testing on interpretation of 12 lead ECG”
What was promised
Stated action 1 · response to Rex Hall (29 Nov 2016) · stated timescale: September 2021
“We have taken significant steps within the sector to support the development of paramedic practice. In particular, in March 2018 we determined it necessary to raise the threshold level of entry to the Register to degree level (levels 6/9/10 on the relevant UK qualifications frameworks). The threshold level for entry to the Register for paramedics was changed to degree level for the following reasons: e A large majority of respondents to the public consultation argued that degree level was necess”
judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Response-by-HCPC.pdf
What recurred
- 15 Nov 2023 · Lauren Smith · Joanne Lees · Identical hazard · confidence 0.92 (high)
The clearest link, quoted from both reports:
Earlier · Rex Hall · 29 Nov 2016
“one of the paramedics who qualified in 2015 after a 2 year foundation degree gave evidence that he had never had any formal testing on interpretation of 12 lead ECG”
Later · Lauren Smith · 15 Nov 2023
“Paramedic [REDACTED] gave evidence at inquest that she'd never heard of Q waves before and didn't see the ST elevation on the ecg”
What happened next
No web check of the stated actions has been published for this chain.