Allergy: Steven Hall.

A PARAMEDIC has been suspended from duty as ambulance bosses investigate the treatment given to teenager Steven Hall who died after suffering an allergic reaction to a curry.

Patrick Hammond-Storey was suspended on full pay after Two Shires Ambulance Trust received a complaint following the tragedy on November 15.

An inquest, at Beaconsfield Magistrates Court on Tuesday, heard how vital seconds were lost by paramedics in the battle to save the life of 19-year-old Steven, of Westover Road, Downley, High Wycombe.

The court heard there were inconsistencies between senior paramedic Mr Hammond-Storey's account of the incident and that of his colleague, ambulance technician Matthew Goss.

The inquest heard that:

It took paramedics 15 minutes to put Steven on a stretcher and take him into the ambulance.

Once in the ambulance, senior paramedic Mr Hammond-Storey took three minutes searching for a needle to administer a crucial dose of adrenalin to Steven.

Mr Hammond-Storey told ambulance technician Matthew Goss he didn't think Steven was suffering from an allergic reaction to nuts but was having an asthma attack.

Mr Goss told Mr Hammond-Storey he thought Steven was suffering from an allergic reaction to nuts, not an asthma attack.

Mr Hammond-Storey decided to drive the ambulance to Wycombe Hospital even though Mr Goss was not qualified to administer adrenalin to Steven.

The ambulance stopped for up to three minutes half-way to Wycombe Hospital to let the paramedics swap over so Mr Hammond-Storey could give Steven a crucial dose of adrenalin.

Inconsistencies about the timing of events were found in the reports which were made by the two paramedics.

Steven specifically asked for no nuts to be included in the takeaway curry, but only half-an-hour after eating it he collapsed by the side of the road in South Heath near Chesham. His lips were swelling and he was gasping for breath.

The inquest heard Steven's heart stopped three minutes before the ambulance reached Wycombe Hospital. It took a 12 minutes to re-start his heart, but he never regained consciousness.

Mr Hammond-Storey, who confirmed to the Bucks Free Press that he had been suspended from duty after the inconsistencies were discovered, told the inquest: "I couldn't find the needle in the heat of the moment and it took me two or three minutes to find one."

He added: "I was in a quandary whether it was an anaphylactic shock or asthma. I decided that it was a severe asthma attack."

Mr Goss, who still works for the Two Shires Ambulance Trust, told the inquest: "I told Mr Hammond-Storey that I thought it was anaphylactic shock, but he said he thought Steven was suffering from asthma.

"I still thought it was nuts and I questioned Mr Hammond-Storey, but it was up to him what to do."

He added: "We stopped the ambulance on the way to hospital so my colleague could administer the second adrenalin injection. I took over driving at that point."

Steven's devastated dad Terry Hall, 49, of Chinnor Road, Bledlow Ridge, said: "Nuts were put in the curry and my son did not receive the treatment he should have from the ambulance men.

"I have lost my son and my best friend and as a father I want justice for my son."

David Brock, a top London lawyer acting on behalf of Steven's father Terry, asked consultant physician at Wycombe Hospital Dr Adrian Wilson if Steven would have stood a better chance of survival if he arrived at the hospital before suffering a heart attack.

He asked: "Could a two or three-minute delay have been crucial?"

Dr Wilson told the inquest: "Yes, it would have because the facilities are better in a stable environment in the hospital."

Chris Rushton, director of Two Shires Ambulance Trust, confirmed Mr Hammond-Storey was suspended from duty after allegations about the treatment Steven received.

He said: "Concerns were raised over patient treatment, but this is just a matter of routine to protect Mr Hammond-Storey, the Trust, and members of the public."

Coroner Richard Hulett said Steven's death was directly associated with the meal he ate from the Spice Tree curry house.

He recorded a verdict of accidental death.

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