GoogleA health board which has “normalised” treating emergency patients in corridors has been criticised by a coroner.
The “unsafe” practice compromised patient hygiene, nutrition and ability to sleep, David Regan said.
Mr Regan issued Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board with a prevention of future deaths report during an inquest for a 16-year-old boy who died after waiting nine hours for an ambulance.
I believe you and your organisation have the power to take such action,” he told the health board.
Jackson Yeow was unable to make it to a GP appointment on 4 April, 2022 after his gastritis symptoms worsened.
His mother called 999 but, despite several follow-up calls, an ambulance did not arrive until after he had became unconscious about nine-and-a-half hours later.
The ambulance service categorised the call as life-threatening and in need of an urgent response, Mr Regan said.
He was eventually taken to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, where he was diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis, pancreatitis, cerebral oedema, renal compromise and severe acidosis.
Despite “intensive” treatment, his condition deteriorated and he died on 9 April, 2022.
During his inquest on Monday, the ambulance service said its ability to respond to the call had been “substantially impaired” because a significant number of its ambulance crews were delayed at hospitals, waiting to hand over patients.
Although Cwm Taf health board did not provide direct care to Jackson when he was taken ill, his inquest was told about the effect of delays in ambulance handovers at the board’s Princess of Wales Hospital, in Bridgend.
Mr Regan said care for patients in the emergency department was “frequently” provided in corridors and other non-clinical spaces, which could “slow the process of ambulance handovers”.
It also impedes “efficient clinical assessment”, causing clinicians to take longer performing tasks, and the “ability of staff to recognise a patient’s deteriorating condition”, he added.
“Care in corridors and other non-clinical spaces has been normalised, which in the opinion of the consultant who gave evidence is unsafe,” Me Regan said.
“When conducted routinely, care in corridors and other non-clinical spaces reduces the capacity of the emergency department.”
The chief executive will have 56 days to respond to the report.
Copies were also sent to the Welsh government, the chief executive of the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust and the chief executive of Cardiff and Vale Health Board.
In December, the Welsh Ambulance Service declared a critical incident because of significantly increased demand and extensive handover delays.
The service, which covers more than three million people in Wales, said more than 340 calls were waiting to be answered at the time.