Updated: AN AMBULANCE chief today apologised to the family of a York man who died from acute pancreatitis after dialling 999 and being told he did not need an ambulance.

Trevor Baldwin, assistant director of access and response at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said a “full and thorough” review had taken place since John Barker’s death, and concluded Mr Barker should have been taken to hospital as an emergency.

He also revealed a number of changes had been made by the service to address concerns identified in the case.

His comments came as Mr Barker’s brother, Richard, said the service had admitted a “catalogue of failures,” which resulted in Mr Barker failing to get an ambulance when he needed one.

“They also said that steps had been taken to prevent others being let down in the same way,” he said.

“We can only hope that they are successful.

“My brother John would have been pleased to know some good had come from his misfortune.”

He said his brother had died in unfortunate circumstances, when he should have had a good chance of survival. He said: “He is greatly missed by his family and friends.”

The Press reported yesterday how an inquest was told the ambulance service missed three opportunities to initiate hospital treatment for Mr Barker, 65, a retired hotel manager, of Thoresby Road, Acomb.

When he initially phoned for help on May 4, 2007, in severe discomfort and suffering from abdominal pain, the operator acknowledged he was suffering from acute pancreatic pain, but told him his condition “didn’t appear to be life-threatening”.

He was found dead in his home the following day. The inquest was told that being admitted to hospital had been his best chance of surviving.

Mr Baldwin said in a statement yesterday: “We would like to offer our sincere apologies to the family of Mr Barker and accept that, on this occasion, the standard of patient care fell short of the high-quality service we strive to deliver.

“A full and thorough review of this case has taken place and has found that Mr Barker should have received an emergency response and been taken to hospital.

“Since the incident two years ago, a number of changes have been instigated by the trust in order to address the concerns identified in this case.”