CLEARER guidance for volunteer drivers who help the ambulance service have been issued following the death of a Deeside man.

An inquest in Ruthin was told several lessons had been learned from the tragedy which befell 69-year-old Robert (Bob) Stanton.

The former fraud analyst fell outside his home in Brook Road, Shotton, on December 20, 2017, after being dropped off by Tony Killow, a volunteer driver for the Wales Ambulance Services Trust.

Mr Stanton had been to Abergele Hospital for treatment to his eyes as he suffered from glaucoma and Mr Killow said he was aware from notes that he also suffered from vertigo.

Mr Killow told the inquest that drivers were meant to ensure that patients safely entered their homes but after Mr Stanton had got out of his car another car came up behind so he drove on a few yards, telling Mr Stanton: “Wait there while I park.”

Within seconds, however, Mr Stanton had fallen over and hit his head, causing facial injuries.

He was taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital but no serious injuries were found.

John Gittins, coroner for North Wales East and Central, asked Mr Killow: “With the benefit of hindsight, do you think you should have taken him to the door?”

Mr Killow, a volunteer driver for 11 years, replied: “I agree.”

A few days later Mr Stanton, who had been in hospital several times in the previous few months, was later admitted to Glan Clwyd Hospital at Bodelwyddan where he had another fall on December 28.

His condition deteriorated and although his wife Brigitte had pleaded for a CT scan it was not carried out until January 3 when he was found to be suffering from bleeding on the brain.

He died on January 16 and the cause of death was given as subdural haemotoma – bleeding on the brain.

The inquest heard, however, that he had been receiving treatment for vasculitis which affected his blood count and contributed to many severe nosebleeds.

Dr Aled Lewis, who had been treating Mr Stanton in hospital, said specialists at the major trauma unit at Royal Stoke Hospital had advised that surgery could not be carried out because of his condition

Barrister Trish Gaskell, for the Ambulance Trust, said there had been a thorough de-briefing with Mr Killow and an action plan introduced to prevent a recurrence and clarify procedures for volunteer drivers. It included the issuing of a handbook for all drivers.

“There has been a significant bout of learning going on,” she said.

Recording a conclusion of accidental death, the coroner said although the bleeding could have occurred naturally he felt it had been triggered by either of the two falls.