A PARAMEDIC with an ‘appalling attitude’ dismissed an unconscious man as drunk and disorderly and told police to take him to the station, a hearing was told.

The man, who had collapsed and was unresponsive in Blackburn, was in fact suffering from a drug overdose and was dangerously ill.

Deborah Iveson was a paramedic with the North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust when they received an emergency call at 15.24 on July 20, 2011.

When she arrived at the scene, she told an officer the man ‘is going in the back of a police van as he is drunk and disorderly,’ the Health and Care Professions Council heard.

He had been seen staggering down the road, before falling onto the pavement, it was said.

But the unresponsive man was not drunk and lacked the capacity to be disorderly as he was unconscious, the panel heard.

Iveson also allegedly repeatedly asked him if he wanted to go to Royal Blackburn Hospital, despite him being unable to speak.

A police officer at the scene recalled in a statement: “She said that I could lock him up and take him to police custody for being drunk and disorderly but I stated that I would not be doing that as a police officer would take one look at him and send him straight to hospital.”

Paramedic Jaqueline Carney had arrived on the scene around a minute before Iveson and was immediately ‘concerned by her attitude and behaviour’.

“The police constable made it quite clear to me that she found Deborah’s attitude appalling,” she said.

Iveson, who was not present but sent a representative to the hearing in London, faces allegations that she demonstrated poor attitude and a lack of judgement.

She admits saying ‘is [the patient] going in the back of a police van as drunk and disorderly’.

She denies asking the patient if they wanted to return to the Royal Blackburn Hospital, misconduct and that her fitness to practice is impaired.

If she is found guilty of misconduct, she could face being suspended from duty.

  •  The hearing continues.