Dial 111 for Milo

A man suffered severe brain damage after collapsing from a heart attack just minutes after a paramedic told him to drink hot Milo to "settle his stomach".

Details of the case have been revealed in a report from the Health and Disability Commissioner which found the ambulance officer breached the code of patient rights and failed to provide a reasonable standard of care.

Neither the officer, the ambulance service, nor the 55-year-old patient have been named.

New Zealand has at least five ambulance services of which St John is the largest, servicing more than 80 per cent of the country.

In this case, the ambulance service which employed the man was not found in breach of the code of patient rights.

The patient dialled 111 to complain of chest pains. An ambulance officer was sent to the man's address where he found him distressed, hyperventilating and complaining of tingling in his arms, hands and fingers. The officer told the man he probably had heartburn, and to have a cup of hot Milo. The officer then left.

Ten minutes later the man collapsed from a heart attack. His wife dialled 111 again and within minutes an ambulance crew arrived - including the officer who had earlier attended.

The man survived the heart attack but was left brain damaged.

One year after the 2002 incident, the man's wife told the Health and Disability Commissioner her husband had almost no short-term memory. "He does not even always realise that I am his wife," she said.

Commissioner Ron Paterson criticised the officer's conduct, saying he failed to provide an appropriate standard of care. It is not known whether the officer is still employed by the service.

Mr Paterson said the ambulance officer should have inquired further into the patient's condition and taken him to hospital.

"He failed to provide services with reasonable care and skill."

The officer, known only as "Mr B", was described in the Commissioner's report as an experienced officer who had completed an Advanced Life Support course.

St John would not confirm if the officer was one of its employees but chief executive Jaimes Wood said it regularly reviewed its procedures to minimise risk.

"I believe our processes and procedures are thorough and solid," he said.

Ambulance procedure for suspected heart patients says vital signs such as blood pressure should be monitored and hyperventilating patients should be checked for life-threatening conditions. "Mr B" did not check the man's blood pressure.