Drumaroad woman’s 40-minute ambulance wait is criticised

Drumaroad woman’s 40-minute ambulance wait is criticised

9 July 2014

CONCERN has again been expressed about emergency ambulance cover in South Down after a woman in Drumaroad was forced to wait 40 minutes for paramedics to arrive.

The woman became ill on Thursday morning of last week and a 999 call was made around 8.20am. Paramedics, who were despatched from Ballynahinch, arrived just before 9am.

A concerned resident, who said he understands a faulty satellite navigation system in the ambulance was to blame for the delay, has called for the circumstances surrounding the incident to be fully investigated by the Ambulance Service.

Mr. Patrick Carlin, who came across the woman who was ill, said while her situation was an emergency, she was not in a critical condition, However, he believes her condition could have become critical at any point at any time, given her particular circumstances.

The resident said while concerned at the length of time it took paramedics to arrive, he made it clear he has no issue with those delivering such important frontline services and appreciates the support and help they provide to the community. Mr. Carlin said his concern is focused on those in charge of the Ambulance Service.

“I am concerned at the length of time it took the ambulance to arrive because if the woman’s condition had been a cardiac arrest I would not have been able to sustain life,” he said. “When the paramedics arrived they attended to the patient who was subsequently taken to the Royal.”

Mr. Carlin continued: “I have no issue with the paramedics, the delay in responding is not a reflection on them. I am however concerned that those in Ambulance Service control rooms are not aware of this area and have no knowledge of it.

“I am coming at this issue as a concerned resident in the Drumaroad area. If this woman was a member of anyone’s family they too would be concerned at the delay she experienced. The delay must be addressed at the highest levels by the Ambulance Service. What happened in Drumaroad last week should be a matter of concern for people living in rural areas across South Down.”

Mr. Carlin added: “Ambulance drivers not sure where they are going is a concern. What we need is a local response which supports the needs of the individual. This was a case where a woman was left in pain for a longer time than she should have been. Something like this must not happen again.”

An Ambulance Service spokesman said the organisation has been made aware of a delay in responding to a 999 call in the South Down area on Thursday of last week.

“The suggestion is that the delay was caused by a problem with the satellite navigation system in the responding ambulance. The Ambulance Service is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the delay and will take appropriate remedial action in the event of the sat nav system being at fault,” he explained.

“The Trust would like to take this opportunity to apologise to the patient for the delay in responding to the call. Our service, on this occasion, fell short of the high standards we set ourselves and for this we are sorry.”

The spokesman said should the patient wish to pursue the issue further, the Ambulance Trust’s complaints manager can be contacted on (028) 9040 0999.