Family of 87-year-old man forced to build him shelter out of football goal after 15-hour ambulance wait | UK News
The family of an 87-year-old man was forced to build a makeshift shelter around him to use as a soccer goal after he had to wait for an ambulance in the rain for 15 hours.
Great-grandfather, David, suffered serious injuries including seven broken ribs, two broken pelvises and a hand wound after falling at his home in New York. Cornwall.
His daughter, Karen, and his son-in-law, Trevor, called 999 at 7:30 p.m. Monday but had to wait for paramedics until 11:30 a.m. the next day.
Operators have told the family not to move David in case it aggravates his injuries, forcing them to leave him outside overnight.
Over the course of the evening, Karen and Trevor said they made four or five calls to 999 and were assured paramedics would get to them “soon”.
When it started to rain, the pair used soccer goals, umbrellas and tarps to provide shelter for the pensioner to try to shield him from the elements.
The incident comes amid long wait times for hospital treatment in Cornwall – with patients saying they waited for ambulances outside the hospital for hours and even days.
‘It is hurting’
“He was walking to the garage when he tripped and fell,” Trevor said.
”We called 999, but the ambulance didn’t come for more than 15 hours. We keep ringing and they will say we will be with you soon.
“My wife is a nervous breakdown.
” They kept telling us not to move him, so we borrowed a football goal next to it and used a tarp. It was an injury. ”
Read more on Sky News:
NHS tracker postcode search: See how your local trust is doing
Care was delayed by more than three years for dozens of people due to backlog
David, who lives in the small Cornish village of St Columb Street, is currently recovering at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Treliske.
A spokesperson for the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly integrated care system said: “Like other parts of the country, our health and care systems continue to be under pressure.
” The reasons for this are complex, including the high demand for primary and secondary care, adult mental health and social care services.
“Our teams continue to work together to support those who need our care, and we encourage everyone to use the service that works best for you – including your local pharmacy, minor trauma or 111 online – to keep our emergency departments and 999 service available for those with emergencies and life-threatening needs.”
Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has been approached for comment.
