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"Unacceptable wait for ambulance"

About: Derriford Hospital / Accident and emergency South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust / Emergency ambulance

(as a relative),

My father woke at 11. 30pm with bad chest pains. Having had a heart attack a few years previously he understood the symptoms. He called himself an ambulance and woke my step mother. She then called me. I arrived half an hour later my dad was grey, breathless and clammy. I called the ambulance again. And explained the situation.   They told me an ambulance was on its way. 1 hour later the ambulance arrived. So a total of 90 mins waiting for an ambulance.

I understand ambulance staff are stretched but I feel this was a real emergency and feel this was far too long to wait. In the hospital my dad, step mum and I were in the ED until 8 am before he saw a doctor. who informed us he would be staying in. He was transferred to a renal ward as there were no spaces on the coronary ward. 2 days later he was transferred to a coronary ward. Where he was diagnosed as having suffered an angina attack. And had to have a stent inserted. Luckily this was a positive outcome. However I feel a 90 minute wait for an ambulance is unacceptable.  

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Responses

Response from Sharifa Hashem, Patient Engagement Manager, South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust 6 years ago
Sharifa Hashem
Patient Engagement Manager,
South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
Submitted on 20/10/2017 at 15:37
Published on Care Opinion at 15:56


Dear Mixxy,

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.

The detail you have provided here has been anonymised so I am unable to locate the details of the 999 call you have made and I cannot directly comment on the event.

However, we would welcome the opportunity to look into the care provided to you and your father; if you would like us to do this may I ask you to contact our Patient Experience Team on 01392 261 585 and a member of the team will be able to provide information on the next steps.

Thank you, again, for taking the time to share your story with us.

Kind regards,

Sharifa

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