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Kali Lindsay

Paramedic accused of failing to provide life support to teen 'risk to public', tribunal hears

A paramedic accused of failing to provide a teenager with support is a "risk to the public", a tribunal heard.

Quinn Evie Milburn-Beadle was found hanged in Shildon, County Durham, on December 9, 2018.

Operational paramedic Mr Wood, from the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS), travelled to the scene in a rapid response vehicle.

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When he arrived, two police officers were already providing the 17-year-old with CPR. By the time a community paramedic and a respondent crew arrived, Mr Wood had made the decision to stop CPR and declared her deceased.

Following the incident, a clinician raised concerns that Mr Wood had not completed everything that he should have done with regards to treatment.

This included not assessing the airway, not undertaking a 30 second electrocardiogram examination prior to declaring recognition of life extinct, not assessing her airways and not continuing CPR for a minimum of 20 minutes.

A tribunal aims to identify whether his fitness to practise was impaired by reason of misconduct and/or a health condition. The panel returned on January 16 and found Mr Wood's conduct fell below the standard expected and amounted to misconduct.

Allegations that Mr Wood did not follow North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust guidance and/or Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee Guidelines were found proven by the panel.

This included not taking a 30 second electrocardiogram examination prior to declaring recognition of life extinct, not applying an automated external defibrillator, and not continuing resuscitation efforts for a minimum period of 20 minutes.

The panel also found allegations Mr Wood's had stated to a colleague that an electrocardiogram had indicated Miss Beadle was asystolic when he had not undertaken an electrocardiogram examination were proven.

A number of allegations were also found not proven by the panel which included not saving defibrillator data to the Cloud and/or electronic patient care report, stating to colleagues the Zoll defibrillator was unable to print when this was not the case.

Allegations about posting a series of comments on Facebook that breached the NEAS NHS Foundation Trust Social Media Policy were also not proven.

The panel is expected to make a decision on whether his fitness to practice is impaired by reason of misconduct on Tuesday.

Selena Jones, representing the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), said: "The panel are invited to find that there is current impairment in this case. It is my respectful submission that the registrant's conduct which led to the allegation has not been remedied.

"The registrant has completely failed to engage. There is no evidence of at any courses or expression of attendance to attend any courses, nor is there any evidence that indicates or suggests that it is unlikely the registrant would repeat the same conduct when treating another person in the future.

"I submit the committee must look forward and not backward when looking at impairment. I submit that the registrant's actions were serious."

Ms Jones said Mr Wood's reluctance to engage with proceedings meant there was no acceptance of wrongdoing or ill practices, no willingness to change, or receive training.

"I submit not only did the registrant's conduct fall below that of a reasonable paramedic he was not truthful about his action and there was an aspect of dishonesty."

She added: "I submit the registrant is currently a risk to the public and the public needs to be protected."

The tribunal continues.

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