North West Ambulance Service has launched an investigation after it is believed that a patient died outside the hospital due to a lack of available beds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paramedics across the country have expressed concerns that ambulances are being treated as “extra wards” as the hospital bed shortage worsens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to NHS workers, more patients in the North West will likely have to wait in ambulances this winter as the number of sick people puts a strain on hospital bed space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 87-year-old grandmother was taken to the hospital on Tuesday will a chest infection, according to the Manchester Evening News.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Treatment began in the ambulance before the patient went into cardiac arrest. A senior NHS source said that a “do not attempt resuscitation” (DNAR) order was in place so paramedics did not attempt to start the patient’s heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They said: “A patient was taken to hospital with a chest infection and held outside in the back of the ambulance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Treatment began on the ambulance, the hospital started antibiotic treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The death has sparked outrage in the ambulance service, with staff fearing that the patient’s cardiac arrest could have been avoided if a bed had been available in the hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to one paramedic, the patient was denied dignity by dying in the back of an ambulance.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
North West Ambulance Service has launched an investigation after it is believed that a patient died outside the hospital due to a lack of available beds. Paramedics across the country … <\/p>\n