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Ambulance service apologises for family's distress

Megan Paterson
BBC North East and Cumbria investigations
Family picture Andrew Watson leaning to one side and smiling at the camera. He is wearing a black leather jacket. Family picture
Andrew Watson was struggling to breathe when he called 999 in October 2019

An ambulance trust has apologised for the distress caused to the family of a man who died after suffering breathing difficulties.

Andrew Watson died at his home in Langley Moor in County Durham, after waiting for more than an hour for paramedics in 2019.

An internal report by the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) found the 32-year-old's condition could have been treatable if an ambulance had arrived sooner, but full details of his care were not originally shared with his family or the coroner.

The NEAS has apologised for the distress caused to Mr Watson's family and described the case as "complex and tragic".

Family photograph A family photograph of Mr Watson with his mum, sister and brother. They are dressed in smart clothes, standing outside a church. They are smiling at the camera and have their arms around each other. Family photograph
Andrew Watson's family said they felt let down by the NEAS

Mr Watson's family are now calling for a public inquiry into the ambulance service and for greater scrutiny into how information is shared by the organisation.

His sister Rachel Turnbull said her older brother had been "loving and caring" and she had memories of him helping her with her homework and enjoying practical jokes.

She said she believed the NEAS had "deliberately withheld" information.

"We're a family that's broken because we know that Andrew should still be here with us," she added.

"We're all grieving differently but we have no other way of trying to get the truth unless it goes to a public inquiry."

Rachel Turnbull is looking towards the camera. She has shoulder length light brown hair.
Rachel Turnbull said her older brother was "loving and caring"

An inquest into Mr Watson's death was reopened in November and the next hearing is expected to take place in February.

NEAS said it would not be appropriate to comment further on the case, but said it would "fully assist" the coroner's investigation.

In 2022, a review into practices at NEAS carried out by Dame Marianne Griffiths found inaccuracies in information provided to a coroner and "poor behaviour by senior staff".

The service apologised and said changes had been made "at pace".

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said Mr Watson's case presented "shocking failings".

"We will never turn a blind eye to failure and will work to root out poor performance and restore public confidence in the health service," they said.

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