St John Ambulance

Private and voluntary organisations · Registered charity

Request correction

First report 24 Oct 2019•Latest report 16 Apr 2026

Reports, concerns and published responses

Reports over time

Reports naming this recipient by issue year.

* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.

Reports: 2
Published responses: 100%
Concerns addressed: 5
Stated actions: 6

Concerns and recipient responses

Statements from St John Ambulance linked to the concerns in each report. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

16 Apr2026
West London
Concerns raised5
1. Insufficient understanding of defibrillator use among lay persons and trained first aid persons
2. Insufficient dissemination and mandatory coverage of Sudden Cardiac Arrest training across football leagues, clubs, coaches and referees
3. Difficulty among lay people and ambulance call handlers in recognising signs of agonal breathing or cardiac arrest
1. Unavailability of cardiac screening for all young people and football players aged 14 and upwards
2. Failure of cascade communication of genetic or hereditary diseases to reach family members who need to know
Actions described in response 3
1. Action
  Incorporate updated national guidance into training so CPR is commenced immediately when someone collapses during exercise and is unresponsive.
2. Action
  Introduce AEDs pre-programmed in up to three languages to support more accessible defibrillator use.
3. Action
  Train CPR participants to recognise agonal breathing and commence CPR when a person is unresponsive and not breathing normally.
AI-generated summary

Adam Ankers · Prevention of Future Deaths report

This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

Report summary

Adam Ankers suffered a cardiac arrest while playing grassroots football on 31 January 2024 due to a previously unidentified inherited cardiac condition, and died in hospital on 4 February 2024 following brain stem death. Agonal breathing and cardiac arrest were not recognised at the pitch or by the 999 call handler, and an AED was brought to the pitch but not used. The report identified concerns about recognition of agonal breathing and cardiac arrest, access to and use of defibrillators, dissemination of sudden cardiac arrest training, cardiac screening, and cascade communication of inherited disease information.

Read the report on judiciary.uk
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to St John Ambulance; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Insufficient understanding of defibrillator use among lay persons and trained first aid persons
Wider context from the report
“POINT C: That there is a need for better understanding of the use of defibrillators particularly by lay persons and trained first aid persons ”
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to St John Ambulance; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Insufficient dissemination and mandatory coverage of Sudden Cardiac Arrest training across football leagues, clubs, coaches and referees
Wider context from the report
“POINT B: That the Football Association’s Sudden Cardiac Arrest training is not more widely disseminated or mandatory for all FA Accredited and Affiliated leagues and clubs and all grassroots football coaches and referees. ”
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to St John Ambulance; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Difficulty among lay people and ambulance call handlers in recognising signs of agonal breathing or cardiac arrest
Wider context from the report
“POINT A: That there is difficulty in lay people (trained or not) including ambulance call handlers in understanding the signs of agonal breathing or cardiac arrest ”
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to St John Ambulance; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Unavailability of cardiac screening for all young people and football players aged 14 and upwards
Wider context from the report
“POINT D: That cardiac screening in those aged 14 and upwards reduces the risk of sudden cardiac death and this is not available to all young people or your football players ”
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to St John Ambulance; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Failure of cascade communication of genetic or hereditary diseases to reach family members who need to know
Wider context from the report
“POINT E: That cascade communication of genetic or hereditary diseases is imperfect and does not reach more than half of those in families that need to know about it. ”
Open source report
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Incorporate updated national guidance into training so CPR is commenced immediately when someone collapses during exercise and is unresponsive.

Verbatim wording from the response
“Part of the training for all undertaking CPR is about agonal breathing. We train people to commence CPR if someone is unresponsive and not breathing normally. Recent changes to national guidance are being brought into training, which is the change that if someone collapses during exercise and is unresponsive CPR commenced immediately.”

Source location
Response from St John Ambulance
Page 1 · response
Published 27 April 2026
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Introduce AEDs pre-programmed in up to three languages to support more accessible defibrillator use.

Verbatim wording from the response
“Everyone is trained in how to use an AED and training- AEDs are included in the training programmes. St John Ambulance has also introduced AEDs that can be pre-programmed in up to 3 languages which it is believed will help address some of the health inequalities that are evident in the data regarding out of hospital cardiac arrest.”

Source location
Response from St John Ambulance
Page 1 · response
Published 27 April 2026
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Train CPR participants to recognise agonal breathing and commence CPR when a person is unresponsive and not breathing normally.

Verbatim wording from the response
“Part of the training for all undertaking CPR is about agonal breathing. We train people to commence CPR if someone is unresponsive and not breathing normally. Recent changes to national guidance are being brought into training, which is the change that if someone collapses during exercise and is unresponsive CPR commenced immediately.”

Source location
Response from St John Ambulance
Page 1 · response
Published 27 April 2026
Open published response
24 Oct2019
Dorset
Concerns raised9
1. Lack of general awareness of Acute Behavioural Disturbance
2. Insufficient frequency and variety of ABD training
3. Unsuitability of existing ABD training package for control-room staff
1. Failure of Emergency Services to use mutually understood control-room terminology
2. Insufficient ABD training for Police and Ambulance Service front-line and control-room staff
3. Confusion over Police procedures for requesting Ambulance support
4. Absence of Clinical Governance Boards in Police Forces
5. Lack of cross-working within the emergency services
6. Absence of joint national guidance on Police and Ambulance Service management of ABD
Actions described in response 3
1. Action
  Press for acute behavioural disturbance to be covered in the forthcoming First Aid Manual edition.
2. Action
  Raise acute behavioural disturbance coverage with the Tripartite Committee overseeing the First Aid Manual.
3. Action
  Provide additional continuous professional development training on acute behavioural disturbance.
AI-generated summary

Douglas Paul Oak · Prevention of Future Deaths report

This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

Report summary

On 11 April 2017, Douglas Paul Oak displayed erratic and frantic behaviour in Poole and was restrained by police after presenting with symptoms of Acute Behavioural Disturbance (ABD). An ambulance request was initially categorised as Category 3, and Douglas went into cardiac arrest before paramedics arrived; he died in hospital the following day. The report raised concerns about inadequate awareness and training on ABD, the lack of national guidance for police and ambulance services, ambulance call prioritisation, sedation, and communication between emergency services.

Read the report on judiciary.uk
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to St John Ambulance; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Lack of general awareness of Acute Behavioural Disturbance
Wider context from the report
“i. There is a lack of awareness generally regarding ABD and I would request consideration is given to the inclusion of the signs, symptoms and management of ABD within the First Aid Manual so that all those trained in first aid are able to deal with a patient presenting with ABD. ”
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to St John Ambulance; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Insufficient frequency and variety of ABD training
Wider context from the report
“iv. I also have concerns in relation to the frequency of the delivery of the training referred to in (iii) and I therefore request consideration be given to that training being delivered regularly, at least on an annual basis and with a variety of training techniques, including simulation and role play scenarios. ”
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to St John Ambulance; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Unsuitability of existing ABD training package for control-room staff
Wider context from the report
“vii. In relation to the training package that has been provided by the College of Policing regarding ABD, although ████████ has recommended this could be rolled out to control room staff, the package is tailored for front-line staff. I would therefore request consideration is given to a specific training package on ABD being designed and rolled out to those working in the control room environment by the College of Policing together with the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives or the National Ambulance Service Medical Directors. ”
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to St John Ambulance; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Failure of Emergency Services to use mutually understood control-room terminology
Wider context from the report
“v. Given that the Police and Ambulance Services work very closely in treating and managing a patient with ABD, and other patients who present with life threatening conditions, it is important that they understand each other. It was clear from this Inquest that there is different terminology used by the different services, the meaning of which is not understood by the other Emergency Services. An example of this was the use of the phrase “on the hurry up”. Although the confusion regarding this terminology was not found to be causative or contributory to Doug’s death, it could be in respect of a future death. I therefore request that consideration is given to the joint national training packages for all Emergency Services, namely the Police Service, Ambulance Service and the Fire Service on the workings within each control room and around the language used in the control rooms. ”
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to St John Ambulance; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Insufficient ABD training for Police and Ambulance Service front-line and control-room staff
Wider context from the report
“iii. I believe it is likely there are persons working within Ambulance Service Trusts and Police Forces, whether it be on the front line or in the control room who are not aware of ABD and the serious risk to life it presents. I therefore request that consideration is given to ensuring all those working on the front line, or in control rooms in Ambulance Service Trusts and Police Forces in England and Wales are trained in ABD. ”
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to St John Ambulance; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Confusion over Police procedures for requesting Ambulance support
Wider context from the report
“ix. It was clear from the evidence that there appears to be confusion of when Dorset Police Officers should call 999 directly and when they should request assistance through the Police control room. I would request that there is consideration of the redrafting of the current “Police Requesting Ambulance Support” policy within Dorset Police and specifically when Police Officers should dial 999. In addition, I would request consideration of training be provided by Dorset Police to all Police Officers regarding the use of dialling 999 when contacting other Emergency Services. In doing this I would ask that consideration is given to liaising with the other local emergency services regarding their expectations, especially SWAST. ”
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to St John Ambulance; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Absence of Clinical Governance Boards in Police Forces
Wider context from the report
“viii. Evidence was given that Dorset Police have established a Clinical Governance Board which helps to create an awareness of, and improvement in, medical care provided by those working in the Police Service. This is not something adopted by all Police Forces in England and Wales and I therefore request that consideration is given to setting up a Clinical Governance Board in every Police Force in England and Wales. ”
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to St John Ambulance; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Lack of cross-working within the emergency services
Wider context from the report
“vi. Extending this point further, evidence was given that there would be benefit in cross working within the emergency services, so for example an Ambulance Clinician working within the Police control room to provide advice. I would therefore request that consideration is given on a national level to cross working within the emergency services. ”
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to St John Ambulance; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Absence of joint national guidance on Police and Ambulance Service management of ABD
Wider context from the report
“ii. There is no joint national guidance on the management of ABD by those who work for the Police and Ambulance Services, both on the front-line and in the control rooms. They are the people most likely to encounter those suffering with ABD and in most cases work together in the management of these patients. Accordingly, I request consideration is given to providing joint national guidance on the management of ABD patients by the Police and Ambulance Services to include: • the provision of chemical sedation in pre-hospital care • the training of all paramedics in administering chemical sedation • the categorisation of Emergency Service calls relating to ABD • the transfer of an ABD patient to hospital ”
Open source report
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Press for acute behavioural disturbance to be covered in the forthcoming First Aid Manual edition.

Verbatim wording from the response
“As one of the co-authors of the First Aid Manual we have raised this at the Tripartite Committee who oversee the publication. The latest version of the manual is being written and we will push to get this topic covered.”

Source location
2019-0352-Response-by-St-Johns-Ambulance
Page 1 · response
Published 22 November 2019
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Raise acute behavioural disturbance coverage with the Tripartite Committee overseeing the First Aid Manual.

Verbatim wording from the response
“As one of the co-authors of the First Aid Manual we have raised this at the Tripartite Committee who oversee the publication. The latest version of the manual is being written and we will push to get this topic covered.”

Source location
2019-0352-Response-by-St-Johns-Ambulance
Page 1 · response
Published 22 November 2019
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Provide additional continuous professional development training on acute behavioural disturbance.

Verbatim wording from the response
“Further to your letter dated 24th October 2019 regarding the Report to Prevent Future Deaths, I can confirm that St John Ambulance are providing additional Continuous Professional Development training around Acute Behavioural Disturbance.”

Source location
2019-0352-Response-by-St-Johns-Ambulance
Page 1 · response
Published 22 November 2019
Open published response

Information checked against published PFD reports and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026

Reports, concerns and published responses

Reports over time

Concerns raised5

Insufficient understanding of defibrillator use among lay persons and trained first aid persons

Insufficient dissemination and mandatory coverage of Sudden Cardiac Arrest training across football leagues, clubs, coaches and referees

Difficulty among lay people and ambulance call handlers in recognising signs of agonal breathing or cardiac arrest

Unavailability of cardiac screening for all young people and football players aged 14 and upwards

Failure of cascade communication of genetic or hereditary diseases to reach family members who need to know

Actions described in response An action is something this recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3

Concerns raised9

Lack of general awareness of Acute Behavioural Disturbance

Insufficient frequency and variety of ABD training

Unsuitability of existing ABD training package for control-room staff

Failure of Emergency Services to use mutually understood control-room terminology

Insufficient ABD training for Police and Ambulance Service front-line and control-room staff

Confusion over Police procedures for requesting Ambulance support

Absence of Clinical Governance Boards in Police Forces

Lack of cross-working within the emergency services

Absence of joint national guidance on Police and Ambulance Service management of ABD

Actions described in response An action is something this recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3

Actions described in response 3

Actions described in response 3