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A MAN died from meningitis after he received “inappropriate care” and an ambulance took nearly six hours to arrive, an inquest ruled yesterday.
Mthuthuzeli Mpongwana, 38, from Bristol, died in hospital two days after wife Lisa called 111 at 10.30pm on January 5.
She reported his symptoms on the NHS helpline and was told to wait for an ambulance after being warned that meningitis was suspected.
Rapid-response paramedic Dana Noriega arrived at 1.17am. He initially dismissed Mr Mpongwana’s condition as “man flu” and failed to spot signs of sepsis and meningitis, Avon coroner’s court heard.
Penicillin was given at 3.30am and a high-priority ambulance was only requested at 3.50am.
By the time the ambulance arrived half an hour later, Mr Mpongwana’s condition had worsened. He suffered a brain injury and died the next day.
Senior coroner Maria Voisin said: “The inappropriate care that was given resulted in a missed opportunity for medical treatment to be given.”
Mr Noriega said he had been “exhausted” after working over the busy Christmas holiday period.
He has left South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust since the incident, the inquest heard.
