"Ambulance waiting time"

My story is about using the 111/Barnet's out of hours service during August.

I am a disabled person and became unwell very quickly and lost my usual level of functioning, including my ability to speak. My carer tried to o get medical help, whilst I got worse and worse.

Delays in GP visiting -

• 6pm - first contact with 111 service as instructed by GP surgery answerphone. Explained had symptoms of a urine infection. Told GP would visit within 5 hours.

• Two additional calls to 111 to report new symptoms, including temperature, spasm, and pain

• 11pm GP arrives

• GP diagnosed serious infection, requested an ambulance within half an hour, carer to ring the if ambulance delayed. Did so repeatedly, each time having to give all my details which was very frustrating.

• 2am carer informed no ambulance available. No discussion about ability to make own arrangements to get to hospital (none could be as I could not sit in bed, let alone get in my wheelchair). Looking back, this is quite scary - if there is a shortage of ambulances and the gp has already visited, does that mean one does not get any more medical help?

• 2. 30 am Carer called ambulance again as concerned my breathing becoming increasingly shallow and could not tell if I was conscious as I was unable to respond at all, not even open my eyes due to the impact of the infection on my condition.

With 15 minutes, 4 paramedics arrived, blue lighted to Royal Free straight to resus area, where urosepsis was diagnosed.

Last week, I wrote to Barnet CCG, but they have not acknowledged it yet