A great-grandfather who was "dying" from sepsis was taken to hospital in a police van when an ambulance failed to turn up, his family claims. Retired butcher John Thomas, who is described as a "loving family man", fell ill and went to his GP in Clydach, Swansea, to be checked over on Wednesday, October 26.
His daughter Jan James, who was with him throughout the harrowing ordeal, said doctors advised that he be admitted to Morriston Hospital with suspected sepsis as he was "shaking profusely" and had a very fast heart rate. But after several departments were called, none of which could offer the 82-year-old a bed, it was agreed that the pensioner be taken to Singleton Hospital by ambulance directly from the practice.
However it is claimed a 999 call operator warned it would take "four to six hours" for a crew to reach him, so Jan was faced with having to drive her severely unwell dad to the hospital himself around 30 minutes away. It turned out, Jan claims, to be one of the worst experiences of her life.
