 Mrs Balmbra died at Wansbeck Hospital (picture, The Journal) |
A provider of out-of-hours GP cover in Northumberland says it is confident an inquiry surrounding the death of a woman will exonerate its staff. Diabetic Matilda Balmbra, 77, was taken to Alnwick Infirmary, after collapsing at her nearby home on Boxing Day.
An inquiry began when Mrs Balmbra died three days later, after being transferred to Wansbeck General.
Her family claims the GP on duty at Alnwick said his contract prevented him from treating ambulance patients.
Mrs Balmbra's niece, Alnwick independent councillor Elisabeth Haddow, criticised out-of-hours cover in Northumberland.
She said her aunt should have been "more fully assessed" at Alnwick, before being sent on the 30-mile journey to Wansbeck.
The Northumberland Care Trust, which pays Northern Doctors Urgent Care (NDUC) for out-of-hours cover, admitted a full medical assessment was not carried out on Mrs Balmbra when she arrived at Alnwick.
 |  We have provided an excellent service in Northumberland and I am confident this inquiry will show that to be true  |
A spokeswoman for the trust told BBC News: "There was not a full medical assessment carried out at this stage.
"This was based on clinical information at the handover, between paramedic staff and nursing staff."
The inquiry into the affair is to publish its findings soon.
It is headed by Rosemary Stephenson, director of nursing for neighbouring Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust.
NDCU, which has 322 GPs on its books, says it has acted properly throughout and adhered to the contract it signed to provide out-of-hours cover.
Chief executive Eric Peacock said the GP at the centre of the row, who is not A&E trained, was back at work.
'Totally appropriate'
He told BBC News: "This inquiry has a lot of implications for out-of-hours provision.
"We have provided an excellent service in Northumberland and I am confident this inquiry will show that to be true."
All doctors who work for NDUC are fully-qualified GPs.
On Friday a meeting took place between senior representatives from NDUC, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust, Northumberland Care Trust and the North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust.
In a statement they said: "The care Mrs Balmbra received at Alnwick Infirmary was totally appropriate.
"Wansbeck is an acute hospital with all the medical facilities needed to manage her condition."
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