A frail pensioner lay in agony all night waiting for an ambulance that never turned up.
Anne Heron, 77, from East Kilbride, who suffers chronic rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, fell on July 9.
Husband Andy, 80, called an ambulance at 10pm and was assured it would be sent as soon as possible. Eight hours later it still hadn’t arrived.
He said: “As the hours passed, Anne was more and more upset – it was heartbreaking to see her in so much pain. My wife is very frail and any knock can be dangerous.
“Having had a hip replacement, she was terrified she had knocked it out.
“By 6am, I was so disgusted I cancelled the ambulance and told them I’d take her in myself, despite being 80 and not having the strength to easily lift her.”
At University Hospital Hairmyres, Anne was X-rayed quickly and told she had very heavy bruising but had not broken any bones.
Andy said: “The hospital staff were excellent – I can’t praise them enough.
“We were relieved Anne hadn’t broken anything but she could well have and we were left all night with no help. Had it been a heart attack or stroke, she would have died.”
This incident follows many similar complaints which have appeared in the Sunday Mail.
And it is the second time this year the couple have been let down.
Andy said: “Anne collapsed out shopping. The security guards called an ambulance but she lay in the street for two hours screaming in pain until a first responder arrived.
“He said just to give her paracetamol but hours later she was still screaming in pain so I called an ambulance. It took five hours despite call handlers telling me Anne was a priority.” An X-ray revealed a badly fractured shoulder and Anne spent 11 days in hospital.
Andy said: “I wrote to my MP Lisa Cameron, who is a clinical psychologist, but the ambulance service did not accept my wife could have been spared many hours of suffering if she had been taken to hospital after her fall.
“Both incidents have made me lose all faith in the ambulance service and I’m absolutely furious about the way we have been treated.”
A spokesperson from the Scottish Ambulance Service said: “We are sincerely sorry for the delay. Managing demand, especially during a pandemic, is very challenging. We are investigating this case thoroughly and will contact the patient directly to discuss our findings.”
Cameron said: “I am continuing to support Mr and Mrs Heron regarding the incidents reported.
“I have written to the ambulance service to raise my concerns.”
Labour’s health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: “The clear strain on ambulance services is more alarming by the day. These delays could have serious or even fatal consequences.”
