Ambulance staff arrested in deaths probe

Two ambulance workers in the South West have been arrested as part of a major investigation into six deaths, a trust and police have confirmed.

Wiltshire police today said a man in his 30s was arrested in June 2024 on suspicion of six counts of gross negligence manslaughter and four counts of ill-treatment or wilful neglect by a care worker, while a 59-year-old woman was arrested in March this year on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.

Both individuals, who have since been released on conditional bail, were employees of South West Ambulance Service Foundation Trust in 2023 when Wiltshire police began its investigation following an initial report.

SWASFT confirmed that both individuals were suspended “as soon as the trust became aware of any concerns” and that one of the two individuals “is no longer employed by the trust”.

Police said the arrests relate to an investigation into “several adult deaths in and around Wiltshire”.

SWASFT said it wanted to “reassure people that this is an isolated situation and there is no on-going risk to patients”.

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Source: HSJ, 19 September 2025