PARAMEDICS took so long to reach a dying mother that Hampshire police investigated the ambulance service for manslaughter.

The inquest into the sudden death of Michelle Davies revealed that officers were so concerned about the two hour delay in getting an ambulance to her that they considered charging South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) with a series of criminal offences.

The 45-year-old collapsed at her Fair Oak home after suffering from heart failure but help did not arrive until more than two hours later after the call was wrongly given a low priority.

Hampshire coroner Grahame Short criticised SCAS for its “failings”, ruling the lapse in care for Mrs Davies was “very regrettable”.

SCAS has apologised for the “delay and distress” caused and had launched an action plan to address findings identified during its own internal investigation.

It comes just days after the Daily Echo revealed how SCAS is facing a recruitment crisis that has left the service with a shortage of more than 250 paramedics.

Bosses admitted they are under “extreme pressure” to answer emergency calls as they struggle to fill 260 vacancies and are relying more on private firms.

Mrs Davies’ inquest heard from Det Sgt Sarah Dring who said that manslaughter, neglect and health and safety charges were considered in relation to SCAS.

She added that individual charges against the call handler, who has since left SCAS, for gross negligence were also looked at.

But she said no charges were made after it was “impossible” to link the delay to her death.

Alex Grossart, SCAS investigations officer, admitted to the hearing the original 999 alert from Shorts Road was wrongly given a low priority, and a busy shift meant that no return call was made within the hour, as it should have been.

Mrs Davies, who had a history of mental illness and a long-term drink problem, had been found by her former partner, George Mason, on the evening of May 19. He feared she may have taken an overdose.

He said that he expected paramedics to arrive to see how she was, even if they didn’t think her life was at immediate risk.

SCAS rang back almost two hours later, asking if Mrs Davies could come to the phone, and 15 minutes later a paramedic arrived.

She was pronounced dead at Southampton General Hospital.

Pathologist Dr Basil Purdue concluded Mrs Davies had suffered a sudden unexplained death brought on by her drinking addiction, although there was no alcohol in her blood at the time.

Recording a verdict of death from natural causes, the coroner said: “Dr Purdue was unable to say specifically whether she may have been saved if she had been taken to the hospital earlier.

“I have to say, on the balance of probabilities, I think it’s unlikely she would have been saved.

“I have to say, however, that it’s very regrettable that due to the categorisation by the call handler, that there was a delay in this case.”

After the inquest a spokesman for SCAS said: “SCAS undertook a comprehensive investigation following this incident and some learning was identified.

“We always aim to learn from incidents that occur in order to improve our services and have implemented an action plan in order to address those findings.”