Sad news from Deeside. A 39-year-old woman, Heather Louise Parkhill, tragically passed away after waiting an agonising 14 hours for an ambulance. The coroner concluded that she might have survived if help had arrived just 20 minutes earlier. Heather’s condition was linked to chronic excessive alcohol consumption, but her chances of survival dwindled as urgent medical assistance was delayed.
The coroner’s inquest uncovered that the initial 999 call on April 7, 2025, was erroneously downgraded, and despite several follow-up calls on April 8, no ambulances were available. A final call at 10:41 am elevated the emergency to the highest priority, but it was too late. First responders reached the scene within seven minutes, but sadly, resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and Heather was pronounced dead at her home.
Heather’s cause of death was recorded as fatty liver disease, with neglect playing a significant role due to the delayed medical response. The coroner’s report, sent to the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust, highlighted ongoing concerns about “ambulance delays” and the unavailability of resources, stressing that these issues continue to put lives at risk.
In response, Liam Williams from the Welsh Ambulance Service expressed condolences to Heather’s family and emphasised the organisation’s commitment to improvement. They are working with Welsh Government and health boards to address resource challenges, aiming to categorise 999 calls more effectively and reduce hospital handover delays.
Our thoughts go out to Heather’s family during this difficult time. Let’s hope these systemic issues are resolved to prevent future tragedies.