Overview
- Heather Louise Parkhill died at home in Garden City, Deeside, with the coroner recording fatty liver disease as the cause of death contributed to by neglect due to delayed care.
- A 999 call was made at 8:41pm on April 7, 2025, an ensuing call was erroneously downgraded, and repeated morning calls found no ambulances available until a final call at 10:41am on April 8.
- The incident was then upgraded to the highest priority, a responder arrived seven minutes later, and prolonged resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful.
- The coroner concluded that earlier medical intervention, even by 20–30 minutes, would probably have prevented the death and issued a formal warning about continuing risks.
- The Welsh Ambulance Service accepted the findings and said it is working with Welsh Government and health boards to change 999 call categorisation and reduce hospital handover delays to free capacity.