Man found dead following report of concern for his welfare - North Yorkshire Police, April 2017

On 3 April 2017, North Yorkshire Police (NYP) received a telephone call from staff at a hospital requesting a welfare check for a man. The man had been taken to hospital by paramedics after being given an antidote to a heroin overdose, but had left prior to receiving treatment. Medical staff said the patient could be subject to respiratory arrest, as a possible side effect from the antidote medication, and that he should have remained under observation for two to four hours after administration of the drug, prior to being discharged. The caller said that it was not known where the patient had gone, but it was possible he might return home.

Police control room staff considered this to be a medical concern and recommended an ambulance should be asked to attend. However, the hospital was not informed of this. The police log was subsequently closed.

At 7.06am on 4 April 2017, the police control room received a telephone call from the ambulance station reporting they were attending the sudden death of a man. This was the same man who had left the hospital untreated the previous day.

During the investigation, our investigators obtained police logs and audio communications, in relation to the incident. We issued two control room staff with notices alleging they had failed to adequately exercise their work and responsibilities. Both provided written responses.

We examined their responses, police logs and communications alongside national and local procedures, including call handling procedure, missing person policies and risk assessment. This was to ascertain whether the actions of the staff were in line with the policies and procedures. We obtained statements from police and hospital staff regarding the hospital request and police staff actions.

At the end of the investigation, the Investigator formed the opinion that there was sufficient evidence upon which a reasonable tribunal, properly directed, could find misconduct for the call handler for failing to follow the force’s missing person’s policy and for not making an appropriate and reasonable risk assessment of this incident given the circumstances; and for the deployment manager for approving that decision and closing the log without ensuring that the hospital staff was informed that the matter was referred back to them with no police action. We completed our investigation in December 2017.

After reviewing our report, NYP agreed. The call handler received recordable management advice.