04/01/2011

'Tea Break' Ambulance Worker Keeps Job

An Ambulance Technician who took his tea break rather than responding to a heart attack victim has been informed he can keep his job.

The technician was 800 yards away when Mandy Mathieson, 33, had what proved a fatal cardiac arrest in Tomintoul, Moray.

The unanswered call, received around midday on 16 October, was instead dealt with by Grantown-on-Spey paramedics located 15 miles away.

An air ambulance helicopter was dispatched and reached the village almost 30 minutes after the call, however, Ms Mathieson was declared dead at the scene.

The Ambulance Technician was suspended while an investigation was carried out.

He has now been ordered to undergo training.

Responding to the outcome, Miss Mathieson's uncle said: "They can't teach compassion."

A spokesman for the Scottish Ambulance Service said: "The Ambulance Technician involved will undertake further training and pass an evaluation before being allowed to return to operational duties.

"The Chairman and Chief Executive will meet with the community in Tomintoul on 28 January."

(BMcN/GK)

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