Paramedics Ignore Man "Not Worth Saving"

Ambulance controllers overheard a private conversation between the crew members in which they supposedly made disparaging remarks about the victim's untidy home, allegedly failed to attempt to resuscitate him, and then apparently decided to claim he was already dead when they arrived.

Barry Baker, 59, dialled 999 from his home in Patcham, near Brighton in the early hours of November 29 and said that he was suffering from severe chest pains.

Controllers sent a paramedic and ambulance technician immediately, and although Mr Baker collapsed while talking on the phone, the line to the control centre was left open as he lay on the floor.

Minutes later the control staff heard the crew enter the house. A police source said: "What they heard after their ambulance crew arrived frankly astonished them.

"Apparently their first reaction was to comment on the untidy and unkempt state of the house. Then they are heard to comment on seeing Mr Baker and allegedly saying that it was not worth bothering to try to carry out resuscitation to try to save him. They then are heard discussing what to tell ambulance control and allegedly decide to say that he was already dead when they arrived.

"Obviously the crew did not realise that the phone was still connected and, of course, the 999 call was all recorded on tape," said the source.

The unnamed ambulance staff were arrested after the tape was handed to the Sussex Police Major Crime Team.

They have been suspended from duty and a file has been passed to the Crown Prosecution Service to consider prosecuting the pair for wilfully neglecting to perform a duty in public office.

Police confirmed the two medics, both based at Brighton ambulance station, were detained on December 5, six days after Mr Baker's death. They were later freed on bail until next month, pending further inquiries.

A spokesman said: "The men, aged 35 years and 44 years and from the Brighton area, have been arrested and questioned following the death of a man in Brighton. They were detained on suspicion of wilfully neglecting to perform a duty in public office, contrary to Common Law."

A spokesman for the South East Coast Ambulance NHS Trust said that both men had been suspended from duty.

"We have suspended two male members of staff from duty as police conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the sudden death of a man at his home. We are giving the police our full co-operation in this matter and are not in a position to comment further at this time due to the police investigation taking place."

Mr Baker, who walked with the aide of two sticks after undergoing hip replacement operations, was said to be a popular local figure in village.

He was described by neighbours as a smartly dressed civil servant who was picked up by taxi every morning at 8.30am to go to the job he had been working at since he was 16.

Ralph Virgo, 79 said: "He was always picked up at the same time every morning to go to his job in the benefits office and was always smartly dressed. He had had two hip operations over the years and walked with two sticks and he was quite overweight but he was a very friendly chap and always said hello."

Mr Virgo who has lived in the neighbouring house for 15 years said Mr Baker's parents had died before he moved in when he had inherited the house.

"I always used to offer to help him out getting the trees cut and such like but he always said no. He didn't like to let anyone in the house."

Another neighbour who asked not to be named said Mr Baker was a regular in the local pub where he liked to drink real ale and was a member of the Campaign for Real Ale.

The neighbour added: "He seemed to have a good social life and by all accounts he was quite outgoing. He was a decent chap and always friendly."

Mr Baker's dilapidated detached house lies in a well-to-do street not far from the centre of Brighton.

Paul Newman, landlord of the local Ladies Mile pub, said: "He used to come to the pub every Sunday morning at opening time. He arrived by bus and met friends here and together they played a few hands of cards. He did it every Sunday without fail and was a really nice chap," said Mr Newman.

His funeral has been delayed but a memorial service is due to take place next month.

I would hate to think this is commonplace when you call for an ambulance.
It's awful to think people who are supposed to help you can make a decision about if you might or might not be worth saving based on how the house you live in might lookor how you might appear to these people at the time.

That's a terrible thing!!
What gives them the right to decide that he is not worth saving???

Jesus, how terrible! Now I am glad for another reason to keep my place clean. God, that is just so messed up.

I thought perhaps the man had been in an accident or something and was so unrepairably injuried that they had decided he was not worth saving because of how it would cause the quality of his life to be if they did.
Such lack of compassion. Man, now just think how they're gonna be treated. You know everyone around there has to know and some even wondering if a loved one's passing may have been due to these two.

I'm wondering if they could be charged with murder.

they couldn't be charged with murder. Death due to neglect yes.

Involuntary manslaughter, maybe? It was pretty willful neglect. But then, I don't know British law.

Wouldn't it be second degree murder or something?
In either case, if people are willing to determine who has the right to live or not based on how crappy their place of residence looks... then I suspect I'll be up sh*t creek without a paddle.
That's just horrible though... I thought they had a similar code of... ethics (or something?) that doctors do - don't let personal opinion interfere with ones duty to save lives. They (should) do all they can to save a life whether they're rich or poor, black or white, outstanding citizen or criminal suspect. It's a human life and we, outsiders, never know the whole picture anyways.
It's like this guy had a good job, great acquaintences, and an excellent social life - a valued member of society... but his place of residence wasn't clean so he was condemned.

Reading that made me sad. How can they let someone die like that? That's just awful.

It also makes me wonder..what else have these paramedics done...er..not done to other patients?

I had always held paramedics in the highest esteem and I suppose that these characters are the bad apples.

I would say that they will probably be done for wilful negligence but manslaughter sounds more appropriate.

I also wonder why the people "listening in" did nothing to help this poor man. Are we only to help out well heeled people these days?

They should have Helen! Those listening should have sent other help right away and taken those two off the job that momment.

That's the part of it I really dont understand Cyn. The people listening in and taking no action are just as guilty in my eyes and deserve punishment for their negligence

What did this poor inoffensive chap to do anybody that they refused to help him.

I took a bloody pigeon that my Dad ran over to the vets ffs!

When will people get it through their heads that every life is precious and is worth more than anything on this planet