Ambulance Staff Member Re-arrested Following Deaths of Six Patients

A 35-year-old former ambulance worker from west Wiltshire has been taken back into custody on suspicion of two additional offenses. The man, who had previously been released on bail regarding the deaths of six adults, is now facing charges of wilful neglect as a care worker.

This development follows his initial arrest in September, during which he was questioned on suspicion of six counts of gross negligence manslaughter and four counts of ill-treatment or wilful neglect by a care worker. He remains out on conditional bail.

In the same investigation, a 60-year-old woman was also arrested and continues to serve her conditional bail. Both individuals previously worked for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT). They were suspended from their duties immediately upon arrest and are no longer with the organization.

The arrests are part of Operation Willow, a significant police inquiry launched in 2023 after concerns were raised with Wiltshire Police regarding the deaths of several adults in healthcare facilities across the Wiltshire region.

Addressing public concerns, a spokesperson for SWASFT emphasized that the trust acted swiftly. "As soon as the trust became aware of any concerns, we immediately launched an internal investigation which resulted in a prompt police referral, and we continue to work closely with Wiltshire Police as part of their ongoing investigation," the spokesperson stated.

The trust sought to reassure the public, adding: "We would like to reassure communities that there is no on-going risk to patients. Please continue to call 999 in a life-threatening emergency."

Due to the active nature of the police inquiry, the trust indicated there would be no further comments at this time.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-04 10:57:26 UTC