The family of Brian Hurton, a 55-year-old man who died at his home in East Kilbride last November after experiencing a fatal heart emergency, has called for an inquiry into delays in ambulance response. Hurton made two 999 calls within ten minutes, reporting severe difficulty breathing, but was repeatedly told an ambulance would not be dispatched immediately and that a clinician would call back.

According to transcripts released to the family, during the first call at 5:55 p.m., Hurton said he was struggling to breathe and feeling as though he was about to collapse, also describing sweating and heavy gasping. Despite these symptoms, the call was initially classified as requiring further assessment rather than an urgent ambulance dispatch. Ten minutes later, in a second call, Hurton again reported losing his breath and pleaded for assistance but was again advised to wait for a clinician’s call.

A clinician attempted to call Hurton back at 7:07 p.m., but the call was unanswered, and subsequent efforts to reach him also failed. It was not until 9:12 p.m., more than three hours after the initial call, that an ambulance was dispatched. Paramedics arrived seven minutes later to find Hurton deceased on the bathroom floor. A post-mortem examination revealed that he died from an aortic dissection, a life-threatening tear in the main artery of the heart.

The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) conducted a review which concluded that Hurton’s case was incorrectly logged and that immediate ambulance dispatch should have been ordered. The review also highlighted delays in clinical response, issues with case visibility within the computer system, and the impact of extended hospital turnaround times on ambulance availability. On the night of the incident, multiple ambulances were reportedly waiting at local hospitals, exceeding Scotland’s 15-minute turnaround target.

Health Secretary Angela Constance expressed sympathy for the family and acknowledged a failure in call handling, stating the outcome “should not have happened” and that improvements were necessary. The SAS extended condolences to the family and noted that they are implementing the review’s recommendations, including new guidance to support more accurate decision-making in grading ambulance responses and ensuring call recordings are reviewed when patients cannot be contacted again.

Hurton’s sister Allison described the situation as profoundly distressing. She said reading the call transcripts was harrowing and that her brother likely suffered in great pain during the wait. She emphasized that although immediate rescue might not have guaranteed survival, an earlier ambulance arrival would have provided comfort and reassurance. Allison also noted concerns that no family members were contacted during the incident, despite multiple unsuccessful attempts to reach Brian.

The family’s call for justice follows similar incidents, including another recent death after an extended ambulance wait. They stress the need for systemic change to prevent comparable tragedies in the future. The Scottish Ambulance Service has indicated willingness to engage further with Hurton’s family to discuss the review findings and ongoing improvements.