40 minute wait for an ambulance

40 minute wait for an ambulance

2 October 2013

THE Ambulance Service has apologised to a six months’ pregnant woman in Downpatrick who had to wait almost 40 minutes for an emergency vehicle to take her to hospital.

The woman, who is expecting her third child, thought she was going into early labour at her home on September 20 after experiencing stomach cramps.

The Ambulance Service was contacted by staff at the Downe Hospital’s midwife unit and a rapid response vehicle with a paramedic on board arrived with the woman — who does not wish to be identified — just over 16 minutes after the 999 call.

An ambulance, which was also despatched to Downpatrick from Kilkeel, arrived with the woman 37 minutes after the 999 call and despite the lady asking to be taken to the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald, where obstetric staff were expecting her to arrive, she was taken to Newry’s Daisy Hill hospital.

Councillor Colin McGrath expressed concern at the length of time it took the Ambulance Service to respond to the Downpatrick woman who was genuinely concerned she was going into early labour. He has raised the issue with both the Ambulance Service and Health Minister Edwin Poots.

The Downpatrick councillor said he was concerned the paramedic arrived from Ballynahinch, but the ambulance travelled from Kilkeel to assist a lady who lives just a few hundred yards from the ambulance base in Downpatrick.

He continued: “Staff at the Ulster Hospital’s emergency obstetrics unit were put on standby to receive the Downpatrick woman, but she was taken to Newry’s Daisy Hill.”

Councillor McGrath described the recent incident as a “catalogue of disasters” and said it was subsequently confirmed the pregnant woman was suffering from a serious infection that was stressing her unborn child.

He added: “No harm was caused to mother or baby on this occasion, but the principle of an ambulance being sent from Lisburn or Kilkeel makes me very nervous. Lessons must be learned from this case and there must be adequate and proper emergency care for the people of Down District.”

An Ambulance Service spokesman said when 999 calls are received the “nearest available and appropriate resource” is immediately despatched to the scene.

He said a rapid response paramedic was despatched to the woman in Downpatrick, arriving with her just over 16 minutes after the call. The spokesman explained that due to the nature of the call and the certainty of transport being required, the nearest available A&E resource was also despatched.

“Due to high levels of activity in the area at the time, this crew was despatched from Kilkeel and arrived just over 37 minutes after the call. The Ambulance Service is currently investigating the reasons for the patient being taken to Daisy Hill Hospital,” he continued.

“We regret that, on this occasion, we were unable to provide a more speedy response and would apologise to the patient if she feels that our service did not meet her expectations. The Ambulance Service would welcome the opportunity to explain the situation to her personally, should she wish to make contact with us.”

The spokesman said speed of response is one important factor in the delivery of the organisation’s service and that when

arriving at the scene as quickly as possible, staff are trained to provide the highest levels of clinical care to the patients they attend.

He added: “There is no suggestion that the care received on this call fell below the standards that we, as a provider, and our patients expect.”