UK Ambulance Service Apologizes after Elderly Woman Lays in Road for Two Hours

Paramedics arrived after an hour, but it was another hour before an ambulance arrived to take her to hospital


Wesley Rock, Hampshire Chronicle | | Wednesday, December 19, 2012


The ambulance service has apologised after an elderly woman lay in the road for two hours before an ambulance arrived.

The woman, who has not been identified, was struck by a car in Winchester city centre.

On Monday, (December 17), she fell and was subsequently struck by a black Audi TT as she crossed Upper Brook Street. The driver immediately stopped to assist the woman.

A spokesman for the ambulance service said: "We will be in contact with the patient to discuss the incident with her and to apologise for the delay which she has had."

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) confirmed that they had been called to the incident at 1.33 pm and but could not comment in detail as an investigation is under way.

Kacy Mulcahy, of Harestock, was driving home from work when she saw the accident. Her companion comforted the woman while they waited for an ambulance.

She said: "I was just getting ready to go and I only just saw her myself. I just feel really sorry for her."

Although she was helped by police officers who were quickly on the scene, onlookers were aghast at the length of time it took for an ambulance to arrive.

Paramedics arrived after an hour, but it was another hour before an ambulance arrived to take the patient to hospital, during which time the woman remained in the road.

Self-employed maintenance man Trevor Allin, 45, was working on Upper Brook Street at the time of the accident. Mr Allin said: "I think it's absolutely disgusting that in this day and age, in the middle of Winchester, someone can lay on the ground like that for a good hour and a half before an ambulance turns up."



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