'Don't block my drive': Patient whose neighbour left angry note on ambulance has died

Ambulance
Ambulance

A patient who was being treated by paramedics when a neighbour left an angry note on their ambulance has died.

West Midlands Ambulance staff were shocked after the slip was left under their windscreen wiper while they cared for a patient suffering major internal bleeding.

The note, which was written in capitals, read: “You may be saving lives, but don’t park your van in a stupid place and block my drive.”

Medics were treating the man in Small Heath, Birmingham, at around 4.30pm on Friday. They were at the scene for no more than 30 minutes.

Tasha Starkey, a WMAS paramedic, said the patient was ‘time critical’
Tasha Starkey, a WMAS paramedic, said the patient was ‘time critical’

A spokesperson confirmed that the man later died at Heartlands Hospital.

In a tweet, West Midlands Ambulance Service said: “Sometimes we just don’t know what to say. This was the note left on an ambulance today.

“At the time, the crew were helping a man who was extremely unwell after vomiting blood. They took him on blue lights to hospital where he was in a critical condition. #patientscomefirst.”

Sam Grimson, a paramedic clinical team mentor for the service, said: “One of our crews encountered this delightful note after assisting a patient suffering a major internal bleed!

“The crew were not on scene long due to how poorly the patient was. We always try to park appropriately but sometimes it it not possible.”

Tasha Starkey, a WMAS paramedic, added: “Crew alerted an extremely poorly patient to hospital… minimal on scene time, arrived at hospital to find this note… this patient was TIME-CRITICAL”.

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There has been an outpouring of anger at the person who left the note, as well as support for the ambulance crew.

Twitter user Jon Watson: “Something wrong with this country when our emergency services are faced with petty parking notes on @OFFICIALWMAS Ambulances and kids aiming fireworks @Tyne_Wear_FRS on call outs 999 crews may be helping you next time. Respect them!!!”

Responding to the original tweet, one user wrote: “Tell me where it was and I’ll park a bus outside his drive and walk off…..”

The note left on the ambulance
The note left on the ambulance

One added: “I was very saddened and annoyed to see such a ridiculous note. If ever you needed to park outside my house for a neighbour I’d offer cake 2”

Another said: “Selfish, selfish people!!! (Yes I’m being polite!!).”

Charlotte Thompson said: “A few weeks ago WMAS saved my father’s life in the back of an ambulance outside our house when he had a cardiac arrest, let’s hope they never have to experience what we did! Ignore these people & keep doing what you do! & thank you!”

The WMAS account tweeted: “Thanks for all the comments you’ve been sending through about this case. We still can’t believe it, and it appears you can’t either. Leaves us feeling really rather #sad – thanks again for all your support”