Ambulance response time to man who died from haemorrhage in Fife home to be investigated

An inquiry is set to investigate the impact ambulance response time had on the death of a man at his home in Fife.

Andrew Rolland died from a varicose vein haemorrhage with cardiomegaly at his home in Lochgelly on March 6, 2020.

The 73-year-old’s death has raised issues of serious public concern and warrants a Fatal Accident Inquiry in the public interest, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said.

The inquiry will focus on the circumstances surrounding the response of the Scottish Ambulance Service to the emergency.

A preliminary hearing into Mr Rolland’s death is set to be held at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court on April 26.

Unlike criminal proceedings, FAIs are inquisitorial in nature and are used to establish facts rather than to apportion blame.

The inquiry will determine if any reasonable precautions could have been taken and could be implemented in the future to minimise the risk of deaths in similar circumstances.

 Procurator fiscal Andy Shanks, who leads on fatalities investigations for COPFS, said:  “The Lord Advocate considers that the death of Andrew Rolland occurred in circumstances giving rise to serious public concern and as such a discretionary Fatal Accident Inquiry should be held.

“An FAI will allow a full public airing of the evidence of the procurator fiscal’s wider investigations with interested parties.

“The evidence will be tested in a public setting and be the subject of an independent judicial determination.”   