Investigation Launched After Maltese Woman Dies Following Private Ambulance Ride
The Health Ministry has launched an internal investigation after an elderly woman died following her head being struck during an ambulance ride home.
Though the ambulance belonged to a private contractor, the Health Ministry said it wanted to “establish the facts”, Times of Malta reported.
Mary Anne Pavia, 82, lost her life during an ambulance ride from a care home to her home back in late January. She had had been staying at the care home for a “few weeks of respite”.
However, while her wheelchair was safely secured, her body had not been strapped to the wheelchair – and since she was covered in a blanket due to it being a cold day, no one noticed.
On the ride home, her body flew out of the wheelchair when the driver hit the brakes. Others within the ambulance were unable to grab her as they were strapped into secure chairs themselves.
Mary Anne Pavia died in hospital four days later.
The care home, St Thomas Community Living, also launched its own internal investigation, concluding the home was not to blame, saying it was the responsibility of the private carer or family to ensure Pavia was safely strapped in during ambulance rides.
“After being discharged, in her private wheelchair (not belonging to our home) she was covered before she left the building into the ambulance together with her personal private carer, in the presence of Ms Pavia’s niece,” the management said after the death.
Pavia’s niece Sandra recounted that fateful day.
“I was not allowed inside the home. They told me to wait outside because it wasn’t during visiting hours. For some reason, when she was lifted off the bed and into her wheelchair, they did not strap her to her wheelchair. I only saw her covered in her blanket when she was wheeled outside and hurriedly carried into the ambulance,” she said.
“As soon as we arrived in front of her house, the ambulance driver came out of the ambulance, panic-stricken. I asked him to park closer to her door but he told me ‘no, we have a problem’,” she continued.
“He opened the side door of the ambulance and I saw my aunt lying on the floor, shrieking in pain. The other ambulance worker was lying behind her trying to hold her.”
The family are hoping to find more answers after the tragedy – and find out who is responsible for what happened to Mary Anne Pavia.
Photos: Sandra Formosa
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