A MAN's death has prompted an indepedent inquiry into the Greater Manchester Ambulance Service (GMAS) based at Whitefield.

Now GMAS has drawn up an emergency control action plan.

Bury and Rochdale Health Authority - lead purchasers for emergency ambulance services for Greater Manchester - commissioned the inquiry after a communications breakdown between the ambulance control centre at Belle Vue, Manchester, and the transmitter at Winter Hill, Bolton.

Mr Billy Roache, 36, died last September after a crew took 23 minutes to reach his Wigan home.

Mr Barry Johns, chief executive of the West Midlands Ambulance Trust, carried out the independent review. He said he was satisfied with changes implemented to improve operational and backup procedures to help prevent a tragedy happening again.

In his report, presented to the health authority this week, Mr Johns said GMAS had "implemented a range of robust measures" and developed a contingency plan within the paramedic emergency control that would address any likely circuit, system or equipment failure.

He recommended that GMAS examine its procedures for investigating operational incidents.

GMAS is also expected to produce a progress report in three months time to ensure that theaction plan is on schedule.

Mr Richard Popplewell, health authority chief executive, said: "I am sure GMAS will strive to put these measures in place and we will be monitoring their progress closely."

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