Systemic failures in ambulance service lead to death of Charles Devos

In January 2021, Charles Devos, a fit 54-year-old man, tragically lost his life in Marazion, Cornwall, following a severe health crisis stemming from a treatable bowel condition. His partner, Hayley Hicks, made a total of five emergency calls to 999 between January 8 and 9, reporting Charles's alarming symptoms, which included abdominal pain, fever, and vomiting. However, the ambulance service's significant delays, attributed to extreme operational pressures, meant help arrived only when his condition had deteriorated beyond recovery. By the time paramedics reached their home on January 9, Charles had suffered a cardiac arrest, succumbed to small bowel infarction, a serious medical issue resulting from insufficient blood flow, which ultimately led to his death. The inquest revealed a pattern of systemic failures within the health and social care system, exacerbated by the increasing demands placed on the ambulance service. Assistant coroner Guy Davies highlighted the missed opportunities in Charles's treatment, noting that timely intervention could have saved his life. On January 8 alone, over 109 hours of ambulance availability were lost due to handover delays at hospitals, reflecting a broader trend of capacity issues within the local health care infrastructure. The relentless pressure on ambulance services led to significant wait times; some patients, including Charles, were left waiting for hours. He was advised to self-convey to the hospital but faced substantial delays that ultimately did not allow for timely medical intervention. Cornish health services have been under strain for some time, experiencing handover delays that reached beyond two hours on multiple occasions. Moreover, the coroner indicated that the Royal Cornwall Hospital alone had seen thousands of lost ambulance hours throughout 2024, pointing towards a dire state within the regional health system. The coroner's report and inquest findings are particularly concerning, as they reveal not only the specifics of the incident itself but also the overarching situation in Cornwall and how it reflects failures in the larger health care system. Following the findings, the coroner announced plans to communicate these issues to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, urging systemic reforms to prevent future incidents of this nature. The conclusion drawn emphasizes the need for urgent improvements in the response capabilities of the ambulance service to ensure that patients receive timely, life-saving care.