We were inadequate

ARNOLD SIDDALL

Health chief’s admission on standard of care for patient

HEALTH bosses yesterday made a damning admission that the care given to Arnold Siddall was inadequate.

Steve Taylor, divisional director for medicine at the Pennine Acute Trust, told an Oldham inquest that it was a matter of “considerable regret” that the Trust had not provided Mr Siddall with the attention he required and publicly apologised to his family for the shortcomings.

The 47-year-old welder, from Failsworth, was twice admitted to the casualty department at the Royal Oldham Hospital following an argument outside the Lock Pub, in Oldham Road, Failsworth, on September 22, 2007, when he was pushed to the ground, fracturing his skull, and died two days later.

Mr Siddall’s family, who pursued a claim for clinical negligence, have already received an apology from the trust which paid out compensation in an out-of-court settlement.

Mr Taylor said: “With hindsight, it was apparent that Mr Siddall had a more serious injury than was appreciated by those who dealt with him in accident and emergency.”

Speaking on the third day of a five-day inquest, Mr Taylor said that as Mr Siddall showed no sign of head injury but appeared to have drunk alcohol, staff thought he was intoxicated and treated him accordingly.

Forensic scientist Dr Craig Chatterton, who carried out a toxicology test, said no alcohol was found in Mr Siddall’s blood, but did not rule out alcohol being consumed earlier.

Mr Siddall’s family members also received an apology from Michelle Walker, a female security guard at the Royal Oldham Hospital, who said she could have done more to help Mr Siddall at the time.

The Securitas employee, based at the hospital for the past three years, had kept Mr Siddall under observation during her daytime shift on September 22, 2007.

She saw him several times and at one stage she escorted him out of the building when a senior sister said he could go.

But 15 minutes later, Miss Walker was called to the Rochdale Road entrance, where Mr Siddall was lying on the pavement vomiting clear liquid.

Paramedics and two Greater Manchester Police officers arrived within minutes and arrested him for being drunk and incapable at about 4.30pm, but his condition took a turn for the worse while at Oldham police station and he was taken back to accident and emergency at about 5pm.

Miss Walker said: “I remember saying he’d got worse but didn’t suggest he be taken back to accident and emergency. I should have done but I didn’t.

She added: “I just want to say sorry to the family for not doing more. I could have done more.”

The inquest heard there was no evidence to support claims that Mr Siddall had been drinking neat vodka at a near-by bus stop all night.

Since Mr Siddall’s death, the Trust has improved more than 15 procedures related to the way patients suspected of being drunk are treated.

Proceeding.