People across Wales have shared their stories of the frightening situations they have experienced due to ambulance waiting times in response to a tragic story of a mum who tragically died after waiting seven hours for an ambulance. We reported on the heart breaking story of Theresa Rowlands, whose son Darren shared how their family called for an ambulance six times in the hours which followed his mum beginning to experience sickness, stomach pains and breathing difficulties.
Each time, they were given no assurances that paramedics were on their way. After waiting more than seven hours, six paramedics turned up when it was too late, Theresa had died around an hour before. You can read the full report by clicking here. Mr Rowlands said his family have now made an official complaint to the Welsh Ambulance Service as they don't believe his mum's call was given the highest level of priority until there was no chance of saving her.
They also questioned why so many ambulances arrived at once when resources were so scarce. Since the publication of our report of the incident in Swansea on Monday, April 18, many readers have joined the discussion on WalesOnline's social media channels, with a huge number citing similar experiences, highlighting the extent of the issue. To get more health and politics stories straight to your inbox, subscribe to our Wales Matters newsletter here.
Among them was Derryl Godwin, who wrote: "My 79-year-old mother had a terrible fall last November, broke her wrist, broke her cheekbone , broke three ribs in multiple places, punctured her lung, and other head injuries. They said seven hours for an ambulance. She would have died. I picked her up and put her in my car and took her to hospital myself. Eight months later she is still with us and going strong."
Brian Thomas wrote: "My brother in law waited nearly six hours for an ambulance following a stroke. He is now in a nursing home, totally immobile and brain impaired for the rest of is life. This was the only time in his 74 years that he needed help, he had never troubled the NHS in his life, it’s a bloody shambles."
Joanna Myerson wrote: "I was told eight hours for a life threatening emergency ten days ago. My other half took me in the car after being told by the ambulance service that they could send a taxi. Then because of the lack of geriatric and social care beds in the community, the hospital is blocked with people that don’t need to be there, so no beds for anyone that actually needs it. I was lucky I got given a bed because I was so poorly. Other people spent two days on a recliner chair."
Margaret Hammond-Richards wrote: "My mother-in-law was 'waiting' in an ambulance outside Morriston Hospital to be taken back to Gorseinon Hospital after X-Rays on her hip. She was in it outside Morriston Hospital from 10.15am until 5.45pm. She had no food or drink offered during that time and she is diabetic. She also was told by the girl attending as a 'chaperone' she couldn't help her to use the toilet - despite my mother-in-law having almost zero mobility. Shocking treatment of an 89-year-old woman who worked all her life paying into a system designed to 'be there' in your time of need. Needless to say an official complaint has gone in, but I wont hold my breath. No ambulance will come to save me."
Anne Bright wrote: "This is not new. An ambulance was called for my mother 30 years ago and it never turned up. My husband ended up taking her to hospital where they had to rush platelets down from London. Today is the 30th anniversary of her passing."
Laraine Makin wrote: "The doctor arranged for an ambulance for my partner at 2pm in the afternoon. It finally turned up at 5am the next morning "
Paul Hopkins wrote: "Only yesterday in our street a 90-year-old fell in her hallway in a lot of pain and stress. Lovely neighbours supported her for hours on the floor until an ambulance arrived. To be told you will have to stay in the ambulance, there is nowhere to go."
Claire Probert wrote: "Called an ambulance for my mother on September 4. We are still waiting for it. I don't blame the ambulance service I blame the Government and all their cut backs. Maybe if one had arrived I'd be holding my mams hand now, not buying flowers for her grave."
Anthony Broome wrote: "Two weeks ago at 4am in the morning I phoned for ambulance to be told there was a four hour waiting time. Luckily I was able to get up by car and spent eight days in hospital."
Moira Hawkins wrote: "Three months ago this could have been my husband. Heart attack victim who had a six hour wait. Our boss drove him there and saved him. This should not have to happen to this lovely lady."
Susan Burnard wrote: "My husband gave up in the end and put me in the car. It was a painful hour's drive to the hospital but got there. Heart breaking."
Lynne Beedle wrote: "So sorry for your loss. My husband phoned the doctor yesterday and she told him he needed to go to A&E like “now” as she suspected a heart attack, and as there was a wait of at least four hours for an ambulance he should get someone to drive him there. So his brother took him in and luckily he was seen very quickly, but there were four ambulances parked outside with patients still in them as there were no beds available."
Responding to the matter concerning Ms Rowlands, Wendy Herbert, the Welsh Ambulance Service’s executive director of quality and nursing (interim), said: "We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the Rowlands family, who we are already working closely with to investigate what happened in Mrs Rowlands’ case. Significant pressure remains across the urgent and emergency care system, and extensive hospital handover delays – coupled with a sharp rise in immediately life-threatening ‘Red’ calls and staff absence exacerbated by Covid-19 – has led to some very long waits for patients in recent months.
"This is absolutely not the service we want to provide and we are genuinely sorry to anyone who has had a poor experience from us. We continue to work with Welsh Government and local health board partners to find solutions to these complex and long-standing issues. The public can play their part by using NHS services appropriately – the NHS 111 Wales website should now be the first port of call for health and information. Please only call 999 in a serious or life-threatening emergency."
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