Express & Star

Paramedic keeps his job

A paramedic who stood with his hands in his pockets as a patient died in front of him was told he can remain in the profession.

Published
Matthew Geary

Matt Geary, aged 37, from Great Wyrley, looked on from the window of his ambulance as Carl Cope, 47, collapsed and fought for his life outside the entrance of Walsall Manor Hospital.

Geary stood over the man for several minutes as a long-standing heart condition claimed his life before handing him over to nurses on June 23 in 2012.

The paramedic was later seen chatting about football while the stricken man was slumped against a bin outside the hospital.

CCTV shows Mr Cope in the hospital waiting room struggling to make himself comfortable and 'clearly in pain'.

After a few minutes he went to a nearby shop to get a drink and on his way collapsed twice outside the hospital doors in full view of Geary who was sat in his ambulance.

Geary watched for 30 seconds before going to help.

The paramedic was told he can remain in the profession as he was handed a two-year conditions of practice order at the Health and Care Professions Council in south London yesterday.

Panel chair Ian Hughes said: "The panel has considered this case very carefully and makes the following order: for two years from the date that the order comes into effect Mr Hughes must abide by some conditions of practice."

Mr Hughes outlined the conditions in place, including the creation of a personal development plan and reflective report by Geary.

HCPC case presenter Laura Ryan said: "There was very little insight demonstrated by the registrant at the original hearing.

"It may be that you find the reflections made by the registrant do not quite hit the mark for somebody who has received a conviction for something quite so serious."

But Simon Hoyle, defending Geary, replied: "There has to come a point where you have to stop reminding people about what they have done and start encouraging them in what they do.

"In a 12 year career he made one mistake and has been paying for it ever since."

Geary previously admitted he should have taken further action.

He said: 'My behaviour wasn't up to standard and I should have raised my concerns about the patient earlier on when he was put into the waiting room.

'My mindset was wrong and my decision-making was wrong.'

He was given an eight-month suspended sentence in February 2015 after being convicted of failing to undertake his duty and help the patient at Wolverhampton Crown Court

Geary resigned from West Midlands Ambulance Service following a disciplinary hearing.

But he continued to practice since the incident despite being the subject of a criminal investigation and subsequent conviction.

The two-year conditions of practice order will take effect in 28 days.