According to the inquiry, a paramedic was at a meeting when she had the opportunity to assist a dying motorcycle father of five who died after waiting for treatment for 54 minutes.

According to an inquest, she was the only CTL in operation at the time of the crash. At the time, this was a brand-new position inside the Trust.

North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) paramedic and area manager Benjamin Barber said in court that Ms.

Hall ought to have halted the discussion and answered the phone. “Yes,” Mr. Barber said when the coroner questioned whether she should have “stopped that and gone.”

“I think it was just a misunderstanding that day that Sarah should have responded when she was offered that job,” he told the court.

The CTL job had just been implemented for around six to eight weeks, he said. Prior to that day, the job that the majority of individuals had transitioned into was more of a management function. “In the past, you would step aside to assist staff during those meetings.”