A PARAMEDIC repeatedly told a critically ill patient to ‘stop being stupid’ when she said she could not breathe, a hearing was told.

Paul Jackson initially refused to give the woman air and as her oxygen saturation levels dipped, she suffered numbness in her legs, the Health Professions Council heard.

The patient, believed to be in her 40s and referred to as MT, had fallen over and needed a stretcher but Jackson ‘frog-marched’ her to the ambulance, it was said. She lost consciousness in the back of the vehicle but the flashing lights and siren were never used, the hearing was told.

The patient, who has since died, was left with bruises to her arms and legs after her ordeal, it was said.

Photographs of her injuries were later taken at Royal Blackburn Hospital and the woman made a complaint to the North West Ambulance Service.

Manager Rick Shaw, who investigated the incident, said the ambulance station received a high priority ‘purple call’ on June 3, 2008 and the decision was taken to bring MT into hospital. Jackson and driver John Liddle arrived at her home and the woman’s partner said she was breathless and could not lift one arm. She also had chest and back pain.

The woman complained of paralysis, which Jackson claimed was nothing more than a panic attack.

Mr Shaw said: “Diagnosis is very difficult for anyone to do. With the signs and symptoms presented, it wasn't appropriate for him to say this.”

Jackson, 60, of Charles Street, Clayton-le-Moors, admits attending to the patient; telling her she was having a panic attack; failing to fasten her jeans properly; and failing to ensure blue flashing lights and the ambulance siren were used.

He denies repeatedly telling her to ‘stop being stupid’ and failing to provide assistance for her to stand, which resulted in her falling over.

He further denies ‘frogmarching’ her to the ambulance; telling MT to walk after refusing her a stretcher; telling her to ‘use her feet, we ain’t got time for this, just stop messing about’; refusing to give MT oxygen; failing to notice she had lost consciousness; removing her oxygen mask at hospital; failing to monitor the patient prior to handover; and failing to recognise the seriousness of the situ-ation.

Jackson also denies that his fitness to practise is impaired. If found guilty, he could be thrown out of the profession. The hearing continues.