Two Ambulance Workers Arrested in Wiltshire Manslaughter Probe

Two ambulance service workers have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter as part of a two-year police investigation into six deaths in Wiltshire. A man in his 30s from West Wiltshire was arrested on suspicion of six counts of gross negligence manslaughter and four counts of ill-treatment or wilful neglect by a care worker. A 59-year-old woman was also arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. The pair have been released on bail while inquiries continue. The suspects are understood to be a paramedic and an emergency care assistant based at Trowbridge Ambulance Station.

A major investigation began after Wiltshire Police received an initial report in 2023. South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust said it had suspended two staff members and described the deaths as an isolated incident. The trust said it immediately launched an internal review upon becoming aware of concerns and referred the matter to police, adding that staff were suspended and that one of the originally suspended individuals is no longer employed. The trust emphasized that there is no ongoing risk to patients and urged the public to continue calling 999 in emergencies.

DCI Phil Walker of Wiltshire Police outlined the timeline, saying that in June 2024 a man in his 30s from West Wiltshire was arrested on suspicion of six counts of gross negligence manslaughter and four counts of ill-treatment or wilful neglect by a care worker, and that in March this year a 59-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. He said the investigation has been ongoing since an initial report in 2023 with detailed enquiries to ascertain the facts, and that the focus remains on supporting the families of those who died and respecting their privacy. “We would ask the media to respect their privacy at this time,” he added.

Officials say the investigation originated from concerns raised by the trust and has involved internal reviews and police inquiries since 2023, with authorities stressing that the case is being handled carefully and that more updates will follow as the inquiry progresses.