Abusive paramedic failed patient

A paramedic who described a diabetic woman who collapsed on a bus as "drunk" has been struck off the register of health professionals.

Jason Sefton failed to assess the woman's condition after she became ill in Liverpool in December 2007.

Mr Sefton, from Liverpool, swore and told the bus driver who raised the alarm that the woman was drunk.

A Health Professions Council (HPC) disciplinary hearing ruled that his actions constituted misconduct.

Striking the rapid response paramedic from the register, panel chairman Martin Ryder said: "This was a very serious incident.

"His behaviour was inappropriate and highly offensive towards a member of the public and a colleague.

"He clearly knew what he was doing and intended to do it."

He had abused me, the patient, the bus driver Chris Berry, colleague

The tribunal ruled that Mr Sefton failed to check the blood sugar level of the woman and then lied to his control room, claiming she was refusing treatment.

She was only treated after bus driver Frank Hodson insisted the woman, who was in her 50s, was examined.

Mr Sefton's colleague, Chris Berry, realised she was hypoglycaemic and administered glucose before she was taken to hospital.

Mr Berry confronted his colleague at the Royal Liverpool Hospital and was subjected to a tirade of abuse.

He told the hearing: "I've never experienced anything like it before in 10 years working as an ambulance paramedic.

"He had abused me, the patient, the bus driver - I just thought he's not fit to be working for whatever reason."

Mr Sefton, who declined to appear at the hearing, resigned from his position at North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) NHS Trust before the allegations were investigated.

In a letter sent to the hearing Mr Sefton spoke glowingly of his own career and denied he had answered the emergency call.

A spokesman for the NWAS said the trust accepted the findings of the hearing and fully supported the decision.