A rapid response paramedic based three minutes away from where a teenage boy lay dying was not dispatched due to an ‘end of shift policy’, an inquest heard.
Lucas Pollard, 14, was riding an electric dirt bike with another boy, 15, riding pillion when he crashed in the early hours of June 1 last year.
He had to wait an extra 15 minutes before an ambulance arrived at the scene in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire.
Lucas’ family only learned that an East of England Ambulance Service (EEAS) rapid response vehicle was based in the town at the inquest into his death, on Thursday.
His dad, Lee, said it was a ‘total shock’ to hear the vehicle had been so close by.
‘The report by the ambulance did not mention where it was,’ he said.
‘They should have said it was three minutes away.’
The end of shift policy was introduced for ‘staff well-being’ – meaning they would only be called out in the last 30 minutes of their shift in particular circumstances, such as a cardiac arrest or maternity issue, the inquest heard.
But the coroner, Dr Sean Cummings, said it was ‘extraordinary’ the vehicle was just three minutes away.
Dr Cummings expressed surprise that he had not been told the rapid response vehicle was three minutes away in a report the EEAS trust prepared for the inquest.
‘I am not immediately accepting there was not a deliberate attempt to mislead the court,’ he said.
Dr Cummings, assistant coroner for Bedfordshire and Luton, will issue a prevention of future deaths report regarding both the rigid application of the end of shift policy and communication gaps between ambulance dispatchers and the trust’s critical care desk.
Lucas was given the electric Sur-Ron bike the day before the crash, after his mum, Marie, won it in a raffle.
The bike went at speed down Old Road in Linslade before wobbling at a mini roundabout and crashing into a street sign.
A neighbour heard the crash and called 999 at 1.33am.
But a crew did not arrive at the scene until 1.51am – despite the rapid response vehicle being nearby.
Lucas arrived at Luton and Dunstable Hospital at 2.37am and was pronounced dead at 3.11am, the inquest heard.
He suffered massive damage to his chest, lung, liver, spleen and pelvic area, as well as internal bleeding.
Many of the injuries were ‘unsurvivable’ meaning Lucas would likely have died even if the crash happened outside the hospital, Dr David Kirby told the inquest.
‘Even if he had been with us earlier it might have made a difference, but I still don’t think it would have prevented his death,’ he said.
Dr Cummings concluded Lucas would not have survived due to catastrophic injuries and ruled he died following a road traffic collision.
The 15-year-old pillion passenger was treated in hospital and later released, the inquest heard.
Lucas’ sister, Chloe, 25, said: ‘I understand why they (EEAS) have the (end of shift) policy but when they knew the seriousness of the case and that they potentially were going to need an air ambulance, they should.
‘If the rapid response had gone there the assessment of what was needed could have taken place earlier.’
She paid tribute to her younger brother who was ‘full of life and taken away from us so quickly and so soon’, describing him as always and caring, kind and thoughtful as well as cheeky.
Melissa Dowdeswell, chief of clinical operations at EEAS, apologised to Lucas’s family and friends for the length of time it took to reach him.
‘Following this tragic incident, we are reviewing our end of shift policy to ensure it achieves the right balance in meeting patients’ needs and the health and wellbeing of our staff.’
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