​THE chief executive of East Midlands Ambulance Service has denied a cover-up over  the disappearance of a vital document.

Ambulance boss Paul Phillips  confirmed that the document had not been found at the inquest  into the death of epileptic Sean Hardy.

He vowed that a full investigation would be launched into how the patient report form – filled out by paramedics after treating someone – had disappeared.

He described changes  to how sensitive documents  were kept.

Sean Horstead, representing Mr Hardy’s family, said: “You say in your statement that you have taken the matter extremely seriously and that at the conclusion of the inquest you will be launching an investigation into matters raised and specifically the PRF (Patient Report Form)”.

Mr Phillips replied that he was “clearly very concerned and disappointed to say  that we’ve lost this piece of evidence”.

Mr Horstead replied: “Why do you say lost?”

Mr Phillips said: “It’s not here.”

Derby and South Derbyshire Coroner Dr Robert Hunter asked Mr Phillips if “to the best of his ability” he could assure the hearing that the form’s disappearance  was not because of a “cover-up”.

Mr Phillips assured  the court that was not the case.

He was later asked if this was “in advance of launching the internal investigation”, which he said was correct.

He was also asked why an investigation had not already been started and he replied that he had only become aware that the form was not available during  the inquest.

The hearing previously heard that  Mr Hardy, 30, phoned for an ambulance after feeling unwell in December, 2006.  Paramedics  attended his home in Chestnut Court, Pinxton.

Police officers were called  because paramedics could not gain entry.

He was then arrested because of an outstanding warrant and taken to the custody suite at Derbyshire police headquarters, Ripley.

There, Mr Hardy collapsed and a custody sergeant told officers to take him to King’s Mill Hospital, Sutton-in-Ashfield. On the way, officers stopped at Alfreton Police Station, where Mr Hardy appeared to stop breathing.

A second ambulance took him to hospital, where he later died.

On Thursday, the court heard how Mr Hardy’s patient report form was filled in after his death – but then heard evidence that it had since been altered.

Ambulance service claims handler Susan Coleman said she saw  a copy of a possibly  altered original  form during an Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation into the death.

Dr Hunter said: “There is evidence to suggest the form has been altered or completely fabricated.”

The Chesterfield inquest continues.