A paramedic has been struck off a professional register for failing to properly treat an elderly patient suffering a suspected heart attack.

The HCPC Conduct and Competence Committee heard that Ian Pratt, who worked for the East of England Ambulance Service, did not follow the correct guidelines when treating the woman.

The panel noted Mr Pratt’s failure to seek clinical advice despite being unsure of the woman’s condition, his decision not to take the patient to the specialist heart attack centre at Basildon Hospital, choosing Colchester General instead, as well as failing to ensure the ambulance travelled to hospital under blue lights.

Clinicians at the hospital determined Mr Pratt failed to spot his patient’s worsening condition during the journey.

He did not consider diverting to a nearer A&E department, assess or manage the patient’s airway, place the elderly lady in the recovery position or notify the specialist centre of the patient’s deteriorating condition.

The patient died an hour after arriving at the specialist centre.

Panel Chair Clare Reggiori said: “The HCPC’s allegations against Mr Pratt do not include a contention that Mr Pratt’s acts or omissions caused her death.

“It follows that the Panel has not made any finding on this issue, and it is particularly important to state that it should not be thought that the Panel’s decisions on the matters that are alleged carry an implication one way or the other on this issue of causation.

“Although representing dealings with a single patient on a single day, the shortcomings were serious in that Mr Pratt failed to provide proper and adequate care to Patient A on two occasions on the same day. The patient was in a critical condition and therefore Mr Pratt’s compliance with protocols designed to minimise risk of harm was essential.

“There is no evidence of remedial action taken by Mr Pratt, and for this reason he must still present a risk of offering inadequate care.”

The panel chose to strike Mr Pratt, who was based in Clacton-on-Sea, from the HCPC Register, with an interim suspension order in place to cover the appeal period.

Mr Pratt was not present but was represeneted at the hearing.

A spokesman for the ambulance service said: “We reported the incident to the HCPC and Mr Pratt has since left the trust.”