"Long waiting times for an ambulance"

I was kept waiting a long time for an ambulance to collect me from my home. My Gp arranged for the ambulance to collect me to take me to the hospital for an operation, I was told the ambulance would arrive between 7: 15 and 7: 30 in the morning. When it did not arrive I phoned to check where it was, it finally arrived at 10: 00 and I got to the hospital at 11: 30. Fortunately the hospital was able to fit me in even though I arrived late.

I took this up with my GP later and they sent me a copy of the original fax to the ambulance service. It may be that they mis-read the time interpreting the 7 as a 1. I expect these thing happen!

On another occasion the ambulance service took me to the Bristol Dental Hospital. After the treatment I was asked to wait in an area where there was quite fierce air conditioning. The receptionist kept making repeated calls to the ambulance service to come and collect me but we were kept waiting for three and three quarter hours.

Initially they said the ambulance would be able to collect me in 5 minutes, an hour later we were told they would come in 15 minutes and a further hour later we were told there was no transport.

I got very cold due to the air conditioning and so was very uncomfortable getting home when the ambulance finally arrived.

I shall go prepared with a thick coat next time!