A shocking incident involving an 86-year-old woman has sparked renewed calls for urgent improvements to ambulance waiting times.
Natasha Asghar MS, who represents South Wales East, this week called on the Welsh Government to outline what steps it is taking to improve emergency service response times.
Her question comes after a distressing incident which left an elderly woman waiting hours for an ambulance on a cold and wet floor at a Newport retail park following a nasty fall.
Members of the public rallied to help the constituent and called an ambulance only to be told there would be an 8-hour wait.
After making the woman comfortable and wrapping her in clothing and already waiting for several hours, the group decided it was paramount to get her to hospital.
They created a make-shift stretcher and put her in the back of a Transit van and taken directly to The Grange.
The constituent is now recovering in The Royal Grange having had two pins inserted into her leg and requiring three units of blood due to a large loss of blood.
Natasha told the Welsh Parliament this week:
“Following her fall, passers-by rushed to her aid and called for an ambulance, only be told that there was an eight-hour wait.
“My constituent's son was left with the shocking prospect of leaving his frightened mother on a cold, wet concrete floor, in danger of hypothermia, whilst waiting for an ambulance.
“Instead, members of the public rallied around and made a makeshift stretcher and lifted my constituent into the back of a transit van and drove her to the Grange University Hospital.
“All of this was caught on camera and the footage I have seen makes very, very distressing viewing. I am working with the family to help them get answers following this distressing incident, so a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Health, outlining what steps the Government is taking to ensure this appalling situation, and situations like this, do not ever happen again, will be greatly appreciated.”
In response, the government’s business minister Jane Hutt MS said:
“Thank you for drawing that case to the attention of the Senedd and to myself as Trefnydd. Obviously, every case and example of that is very regrettable.
“I'm sure also that the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care will want to take note of that case that you've explained, and it is also very admirable that - it shows the community response, doesn't it?
“And we also know that, so often, paramedics can be on the scene before ambulances. I think we also have, across the Chamber, examples where we are told, 'Oh, someone fell ill and an ambulance came very quickly', so we must make sure that we have consistency. But it is important that you do draw this attention to the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust.
“And, indeed, obviously there is a formal complaints process, but also we obviously hope that the constituent who was affected is now receiving, I'm sure, all the care that's required.”
Commenting outside the chamber, Natasha Asghar MS said:
“Incidents like these are incredibly distressing for all those involved, and I want to pay tribute to the quick-thinking members of the public for rushing to my constituent’s aid.
“If it hadn’t been for their swift action, the outcome for my constituent could’ve been very different and it doesn’t even bear thinking about.
“I am pleased that my constituent is making a strong recovery and will continue to help the family in getting answers and pushing for improvements to make sure no one else has to go through something like this again.
