Ambulance man chose not to attend nearby 999 call

Mandy Mathieson died after falling ill on 16 October

An ambulance technician chose not to respond to a 999 call about a woman having what proved to be a fatal heart attack 800 yards from his depot in Moray because he was on a break.

The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) said the emergency in Tomintoul was instead answered by a crew based 21 minutes away in Grantown-on-Spey.

An air ambulance was also scrambled, but 33-year-old Mandy Mathieson, who had suffered a blood clot, died.

The technician has been suspended while an investigation is carried out.

Ms Mathieson's brother, Charles, said his family were shocked by how the emergency was dealt with.

He said: "I have worked in the fire service for 20 years and I can assure you that has never happened in the fire service.

"I just assumed, and the public at large assumed, that for a treble nine call the nearest ambulance will be despatched."

A spokesman for the SAS said the 999 call for a cardiac emergency was received at about midday on 16 October.

He said: "The ambulance technician on duty in Tomintoul was on a rest break and chose not to respond.

"An ambulance crew was dispatched from Grantown-on-Spey and arrived on scene within 21 minutes, followed by an air ambulance helicopter eight minutes later.

"Unfortunately the patient did not survive the cardiac arrest and our thoughts are with her family at this difficult time."

The spokesman added: "The Scottish Ambulance Service has asked the Health Professions Council to consider the ambulance technician's decision-making and has suspended the individual whilst this consideration takes place."

The Scottish government said it expected the investigation to examine whether procedures were properly followed and if there were any lessons to be learned.

A spokeswoman added: "Our thoughts are first and foremost with the relatives of this woman at this difficult time."