Home / Health / 97-Year-Old Dies Amid Ambulance Delay
97-Year-Old Dies Amid Ambulance Delay
22 Feb
Summary
- A 97-year-old woman died after a 10-day ambulance wait.
- Pneumonia was cited as the cause of death, with complications.
- An inquest will examine ambulance transfer delays and care.
A 97-year-old woman, Babette Burge, died following a distressing 10-day wait for an ambulance.
Ms. Burge was discovered on the floor of her Newport home on October 19, 2025, by a carer. Earlier, a paramedic had assessed her, noting signs consistent with a fractured hip, specifically a shortened and rotated leg.
She was informed that an ambulance to St. Mary's Hospital would take ten days to arrive. Tragically, she died before this transfer could occur.
An inquest at Isle of Wight Coroner's Court recorded pneumonia as the cause of death, with immobility and a left femoral fracture contributing. Mottling on her skin suggested poor circulation.
The full inquest, scheduled for August 12, will investigate the ambulance transfer delay and the care provided after her fall.
