A father of three, Paul Camfield, 62, died just weeks after experiencing severe headaches that doctors allegedly attributed to an ear infection. His death followed a seizure that resulted in a fractured spine and two brain bleeds.
Camfield was at home with his youngest son, Josh, when he convulsed and fell out of bed. After three 999 calls, an ambulance reportedly took nearly an hour to arrive. At Stoke Mandeville Hospital, doctors discovered Camfield had a fractured spine and a brain bleed. His elder sons, Toby and Ali Camfield, were told their father would make a full recovery.
However, a week later, Camfield suffered a second brain bleed. He was taken to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford for emergency surgery. Following the procedure, medical staff informed the family that the brain damage was too severe to revive him. Three days later, on July 1, his life support was turned off.
Tragically, Josh has been left orphaned as his mother, Elaine Crone, Camfield's ex-partner, died earlier this year from secondary cancer. Toby and Ali Camfield have initiated a GoFundMe campaign to support their 11-year-old half-brother, with Ali beginning the process of fostering Josh.
Toby Camfield recounted that his father had hit his head a few months prior after falling on a slip-and-slide. He then began complaining of headaches, which were dismissed by doctors as an ear infection, and he was prescribed antibiotics. Despite this, the headaches persisted.
On June 20, Josh found his father on the floor after a seizure. Ali Camfield stated that he had to call for an ambulance three times, with the first two calls categorized as needing a response within two hours and the third as a category 2, with a target response of 40 minutes. The ambulance arrived 42 minutes after the third call, which was logged at 06:32.
At Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Camfield was conscious and reportedly told he would recover. However, he continued to experience headaches, which were deemed normal by hospital staff. About a week later, he suffered a re-bleed and was rushed to John Radcliffe Hospital. He underwent emergency brain surgery but did not regain consciousness. The family was informed that he was brain dead.
A spokesperson for Buckinghamshire NHS Trust, which oversees Stoke Mandeville Hospital, expressed condolences and stated they could not comment on individual patient care due to confidentiality but encouraged the family to contact them directly to discuss concerns.
A spokesperson for South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust confirmed the timeline of the 999 calls and the response time, extending their condolences to the family.
Ali Camfield is in the process of fostering Josh, who will be moving to Worcester and enrolling in a new school. The brothers expressed deep concern for Josh's emotional well-being as he navigates life without both parents.