October 2015

The Investigating Manager interviewed the member of staff and reviewed the Patient Care Record completed at the time. The paramedic advised that he did not dress the wound as he did not want to disturb the clot that had formed and wanted this to be done in a sterile hospital environment. The Patient Care Record completed by the Paramedic documents that he assessed the patient’s chest and cleared his cervical spine for tenderness or pain. These examinations carried out suggest that an appropriate assessment of the upper body took place.

The paramedic took a set of neurological observations documenting that the patient had motor reaction, sensory and circulation in all four limbs. His pupils were also observed to be equal and reacting to light indicating that there was no time-critical neurological trauma that required immediate intervention. The Paramedic assessed the patient’s wrist and found no evidence of fracture at that time and concluded that conveyance to A&E was not required at that time.