Booze cruise ambulance chief suspended

A director of the Shropshire-based air ambulance who modified a health trust car to go on a booze cruise to France has been suspended for a year.

Paul Leaman was working for another trust when he and colleague Richard Lane had the Essex Ambulance Service crests removed from a people carrier and the back seats taken out to fit in more alcohol.

They then charged the cost of the changes back to the health trust.

The Health Professions Council (HPC) heard that the insurance on the vehicle would have been invalid for the trip to France in 2001.

Lane and Leaman - now a director of the Midlands Air Ambulance based at RAF Cosford - also gave business to Alliance Trading instead of sticking to competitive tender processes.

When fleet manager Paul Holmes blew the whistle on the deals he was subjected to disproportionate disciplinary proceedings in 2005 and bullied, the HPC heard.

He successfully took the trust to an employment tribunal over his treatment.

Mr Leaman was seconded to the County Air Ambulance as charity appeals director in 2008.

Leaman and Lane admitted the facts of the charges but denied that their fitness to practise was impaired.

The HPC Conduct and Competence Committee panel found they breached standards relating to personal conduct, professionalism, behaving with honesty and making sure their behaviour didn't damage the profession's reputation.

Suzie Fothergill, from West Midland Ambulance Service, said: "The trust will not be making any comments on the outcome until it has had a chance to study the wording of the decision."