ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

A London paramedic has been suspended from work for 12 months after refusing to answer a 999 call because he was reaching the end of his shift.

Edmund Daly refused to go to the aid of a 43-year-old woman believed to be pregnant, who was vomiting and feeling dizzy, saying it was "dangerous" because his crew were "very tired".

The paramedic, who has about 30 years of experience, had worked for more than 11 hours without a break and hoped to finish his shift on time, a Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) hearing was told this week.

HCPC panel chairman Julian Weinberg today said he was being suspended for misconduct that "seriously undermines public confidence in the profession".

The incident in Kingston on May 29, 2013, saw a woman made to wait about 90 minutes before being taken to hospital.

Daly - then a London Ambulance Service team leader - and his team had been asked at 5.25am to answer the emergency call for the woman.

Mr Weinberg said: "As a paramedic and as a team leader, he failed to make service users his main concern. (Daly) has also not demonstrated any remorse for his actions and such misconduct seriously undermines public confidence in the profession.

"However, the panel has taken into account that this was an isolated incident in the registrant's 30-year unblemished history of service as a paramedic and that it occurred after an 11-hour shift without a rest break."

Daly, who did not attend the hearing, had faced one count of misconduct.

In a written statement he asked the panel to consider health problems as a mitigating factor, as well as an incident involving a call to a fire in 2009 that had a "profound" effect on him.

Presenting officer Simon Walters told the hearing: "During the conversation at 5.25 the registrant questioned the emergency call being allocated (to his crew) and explained that in his opinion they could not do the call because there wasn't enough time to attend the patient and finish their shift on time.

He added: "As a result of Mr Daly's actions the emergency vehicle, which has only one purpose, which is of course to serve the public who are in need, was taken out of service by the registrant and made unavailable."

Daly's ambulance controller Patricia Smith told the hearing she was "disappointed" at his behaviour, saying it was a "bonus" for paramedics to finish their shifts on time and they were expected to work late when necessary.

A London Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: "Ed Daly was suspended from duty as soon as we became aware of what happened and dismissed following an investigation.

"Patients always come first and his actions do not reflect the care and compassion shown by our ambulance crews who are working hard for patients in the capital."

Additional reporting by PA