Inquiry after death of grandad who ‘waited two days for ambulance’

The first hearing of an inquiry into the death of a man who reportedly waited almost two days for an ambulance to arrive at his home will take place next month.

Gerard Brown, 65, died after a fall at his home in Glasgow in September 2021.

A fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into his death has been ordered, meaning a sheriff will examine the circumstances and establish if any precautions could have been taken.

A preliminary hearing will take place on February 10 at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

Gerard Brown passed away after waiting 40 hours for an ambulance. Supplied

Mr Brown fell at his home in Glasgow on September 6, but paramedics did not reach him until two days later, on Wednesday, September 8, by which point he had died.

The dad-of-three weighed only six stone and had survived cancer and suffered from a number of health issues.

He died at his home and his family say his body was still warm when paramedics got there shortly after 3am.

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The former engineer had fallen and was unable to get up to unlock his door in Dumbreck, and was dangerously dehydrated and requiring oxygen treatment.

A concierge gained access to the property and called for an ambulance at 11am telling Mr Brown’s family they faced a ten-hour wait.

The crisis was branded “third world” by Mr Brown’s GP, Dr Patrick O’Neill, who had intervened to urge for it to be prioritised.

“If they had got there my dad would still be here. How are you meant to deal with that?”
Dylan Brown

The case was referred to the Procurator Fiscal and the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman. The Scottish Ambulance Service promised to “learn” from the tragedy.

Days after his death, Mr Brown’s heartbroken son Dylan told STV News: “They pronounced that he was only just dead because he still had warmth in his body.

“In this day and age, it should not be happening.

“I know with Covid people are busy and the NHS is struggling, but that’s unacceptable and we just don’t want it happening to another family.

“The worst thing about it is that Dr O’Neill said to me, ‘Dylan, I can assure you that if they’d got to him your dad would still be here’.

“That’s the hardest part to accept.

“I said ‘this man is going to be found dead’ – and I used that language, because I knew the situation he was in.”
Dr Patrick O’Neill

“That’s what led to us saying we need to do something about it because this cannot happen to any other families.

Dr O’Neill said he was first made aware of Mr Brown’s condition by his ex-wife on Monday morning, after she phoned the practice to let them know that the family were waiting for an ambulance.

He said: “Then at 9am on Tuesday we get a phonecall from his ex-wife to say ‘listen, he’s still in the house’.

“I was like ‘you are kidding me?’.

“I got on the phone to the ambulance service at 9.15am and I said ‘this man is going to be found dead’ – and I used that language, because I knew the situation he was in.

“It’s happening across the board and it’s not their fault – it’s shortages – but you assume when you put in a 999 call that these people are going to be picked up.”

The FAI is expected to focus on on call handling and response times by the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks said: “The death of Gerard Brown occurred in circumstances giving rise to serious public concern and as such the Lord Advocate has decided that a discretionary Fatal Accident Inquiry should be held.

“The lodging of the first notice enables FAI proceedings to commence under the direction of the sheriff.

“Mr Brown’s family will continue to be kept informed of significant developments as court proceedings progress.”