A paramedic and an emergency care assistant based at Trowbridge Ambulance Station have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter as part of a major police investigation into six patient deaths across Wiltshire, police revealed today.
The man in his 30s from West Wiltshire faces six counts of gross negligence manslaughter and four counts of ill-treatment or wilful neglect by a care worker. His female colleague, aged 59, has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. Both South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust workers have been released on bail whilst the investigation continues.
The offence of gross negligence manslaughter requires the breach of an existing duty of care, which gives rise to a serious and obvious risk of death, according to Crown Prosecution Service guidance. The charge carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and is most commonly seen in healthcare settings where professionals have made serious mistakes resulting in patient deaths.
Detective Chief Inspector Phil Walker from Wiltshire Police’s major crime team confirmed the investigation has been ongoing since 2023. “We can confirm that a major investigation is underway relating to several adult deaths in and around Wiltshire,” he said. This investigation has been ongoing since an initial report was made to Wiltshire Police in 2023 and detailed enquiries have been undertaken since to ascertain the facts.
The male paramedic was arrested in June 2024, whilst his female colleague, understood to be an emergency care assistant, was detained in March this year. DCI Walker emphasised that the force’s priority remains supporting bereaved families. “Our focus is on supporting the families and loved ones of those who have died, and we would ask the media to respect their privacy at this time,” he stated.
Trust Response and Staff Suspensions
South Western Ambulance Service acted swiftly once concerns emerged, immediately launching an internal investigation before referring the matter to police. A trust spokesperson confirmed: “As soon as the Trust became aware of any concerns, we immediately initiated an internal investigation which resulted in a prompt police referral, and we have been working closely with them as part of the ongoing investigation.”
The trust suspended both members of staff, immediately relieving them of all duties including patient treatment. One of the suspended individuals is no longer employed by the organisation, though the trust declined to provide further details citing the ongoing investigation.
In a confidential internal email seen by local media, trust management informed staff that the probe “follows a concern raised by the Trust to Wiltshire Police.” The communication confirmed the immediate suspension of one staff member and their subsequent dismissal, followed by the suspension of a second employee.
The trust sought to reassure the public about service safety. “We would like to reassure people that this is an isolated situation and there is no ongoing risk to patients,” the spokesperson said. “Please continue to call 999 in a life-threatening emergency.”
Trowbridge Ambulance Station Under Scrutiny
The arrests have cast a spotlight on Trowbridge Ambulance Station, located on Hilperton Road. The facility has previously faced controversy, with multiple paramedics suspended in 2022 following allegations of widespread bullying and harassment that earned it the nickname “Mafia Station” amongst some staff.
A whistleblower at the time described an “absolutely horrific” culture where “people are frightened,” claiming the problems emerged following the death of a respected paramedic officer in 2018. The source alleged that what was once “one of the best stations to work on” had deteriorated significantly, with ambulance staff actively avoiding assignments there.
Emergency care assistants at South Western Ambulance Service typically undergo eight weeks of training before joining station teams. They provide essential support to qualified paramedics, attending accidents and sudden illnesses across the region. The role requires compassion, commitment, and the ability to remain calm in pressurised situations whilst dealing with life and death emergencies.
Legal Framework and Healthcare Prosecutions
Gross negligence manslaughter in healthcare contexts requires prosecutors to prove that a defendant owed a duty of care to the deceased, breached that duty through negligent acts or omissions, and that this breach caused the death. The negligence must be deemed “gross” – going beyond mere compensation between parties and showing such disregard for life and safety as to constitute criminal conduct.
The Williams review into gross negligence manslaughter in healthcare settings, published in June 2018, recommended establishing a common understanding of respective roles and responsibilities whilst considering the wider system in which individual actions took place. This includes examining organisational culture, work patterns, leadership, job workload, procedures and the working environment.
Healthcare professionals can face prosecution when their conduct falls so far below expected standards that it amounts to a crime. Most prosecutions for gross negligence have involved individuals rather than organisations, though NHS trusts can also face corporate manslaughter charges in certain circumstances.
The investigation follows national concerns about criminal prosecutions in healthcare settings. In 2015, over 300 senior doctors signed an open letter expressing serious concerns about the perceived increased involvement of the criminal process in healthcare, particularly following high-profile cases involving medical professionals.
Service Performance and Inspection History
South Western Ambulance Service provides emergency medical services to approximately 5.6 million people across the South West, operating 94 ambulance stations and employing nearly 6,000 clinical and operational staff. The trust covers Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire.
The trust was most recently inspected by health watchdog the Care Quality Commission in 2022 and was rated as “good”, having made improvements since previous inspections. The trust was rated as “outstanding” for care and “good” for its response times, effectiveness and leadership, though its emergency and urgent care services required improvement.
During the 2022 inspection, the CQC found the trust provided outstanding caring for patients, often in highly stressful situations. However, inspectors noted concerns about response times to urgent calls and identified areas where vehicles and premises weren’t always secured according to trust policies. Some medicines weren’t properly stored or disposed of, and patient records weren’t always adequately protected.
Ongoing Investigation
Police have provided limited details about the nature of the alleged offences or the circumstances surrounding the six deaths. The investigation, now in its second year, involves detailed forensic examination of evidence and witness statements.
Under national protocols, where a local investigation identifies reasonable suspicion of a criminal offence, police should consult the Crown Prosecution Service when parties need to determine whether decisions, acts or omissions under investigation amount to criminal offences. This consultation assists investigations and can allow cases to be concluded early where incidents don’t meet criminal thresholds.
The arrests represent a rare instance of ambulance service personnel facing such serious criminal allegations. While healthcare professionals regularly face scrutiny through regulatory bodies and internal disciplinary procedures, criminal prosecutions for gross negligence manslaughter remain relatively uncommon.
Both suspects remain on conditional bail whilst Wiltshire Police continue their investigation. The force has not indicated when the investigation might conclude or whether further arrests are anticipated. Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, South Western Ambulance Service has stated it cannot comment further at this stage.
The case highlights ongoing debates about accountability in healthcare settings and the balance between individual responsibility and systemic failures. As the investigation continues, questions remain about how the alleged incidents occurred and what lessons might be learned to prevent future tragedies.
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Image Credit:
Ambulance in the UK (April 8, 2016) — photo by Dickelbers, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
