Anger over two-hour wait for ambulance (From The Northern Echo)

Anger over two-hour wait for ambulance

5:18pm Tuesday 14th February 2012 in Bishop Auckland News

A WOMAN who collapsed in a busy supermarket has criticised an emergency service after she was left lying on the floor for two hours waiting for an ambulance.

Sharon Sowerby was working on a check-out at Sainsbury's, in St Helen Auckland, when she became ill.

Mrs Sowerby, 46, has a hernia problem which has caused her some discomfort in the past. But she said the incident last week was the worst pain she had ever suffered.

Worried colleagues phoned for an ambulance shortly after 5pm last Tuesday, and were asked a series of questions about Mrs Sowerby's current state.

A rapid-response paramedic arrived at 5.35pm. Ambulance bosses admitted this would have been sooner, but another paramedic was held up in traffic.

The paramedic provided pain relief for Mrs Sowerby, but was unable to move her from near the checkouts due to the pain she was suffering.

Her family said an ambulance did arrive, but that it was called away before the staff were able to treat her.

Eventually, a second ambulance came shortly after 7pm andMrs Sowerby was taken to DarlingtonMemorial Hospital for treatment.

"It was horrible, " said Mrs Sowerby. "I was in so much pain. I didn't even realise I had been lying there so long - it was that bad. I can't remember much.

"The paramedic, who was excellent, did everything he could, but he was restricted because of where it happened.

I know I might not have been the biggest emergency, but I should never have been lying there for two hours.

"The people on the other end of the phone were not very helpful. They wanted to talk to me, but I was in so much pain it was the last thing I needed.

"When the ambulance did arrive we found out it had come from Hartlepool. There were obviously not enough ambulances and that is very scary."

A spokeswoman for the North-East Ambulance Service (NEAS) said: "Ambulances are prioritised to patients who need them the most, with life-threatening emergencies coming first.

"We sympathise with Mrs Sowerby over her wait for an ambulance during what must have been an uncomfortable and worrying time.

"NEAS received the call at 5.12pm on Tuesday, February 6.The call was triaged as being a non-life threatening Category B incident.

"A rapid response vehicle with a paramedic was dispatched within threeminutes.

The paramedic contacted control to explain he was stuck in traffic.

"The call was immediately transferred to a second rapid response vehicle, which arrived at the location at 5.35pm.

It was found that the address given during the initial call to the NEAS was incorrect.

"The paramedic attended to Mrs Sowerby, stayingwith her until an ambulance became available at 7.02pm."