The Daily Mail reported on 7 November that 87 year old Percy Bend died after suffering a cervical spinal cord injury during an incident in the back of a patient transport ambulance. Following a stroke about 18 months previously, he was receiving physiotherapy twice a week. It was following one of these sessions that the PT ambulance was taking him home. According to the staff, his wheelchair was clamped into position using ratchet clamps found in many PT ambulances.

However, the inquest heard that when the driver pulled away after dropping off another patient, Percy’s chair tipped over backwards. The MHRA confirmed that nothing was wrong with the wheelchair or the clamps and that had the clamps been fitted correctly, the incident wouldn’t have happened. It also came to light that the crew member concerned had no formal training in securing the clamps.

His death came 18 days later after contracting bronchopneumonia as a direct result of the incident.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1225717/Pensioner-died-wheelchair-tipped-ambulance.html

Sheffield Northern General where Mr Bend died