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Parkinson's Patient Waits 10 Hours for Ambulance
16 Apr
Summary
- A 74-year-old with Parkinson's endured a 10-hour wait for an ambulance.
- She suffered a broken shoulder after a fall at her home.
- The ambulance service cited extreme system pressure for the delay.
A 74-year-old woman with Parkinson's disease experienced a distressing 10-hour wait for an ambulance following a fall at her home. Her daughter reported that the patient sustained a fractured shoulder and endured significant pain throughout the prolonged delay, which began on a Tuesday afternoon. The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) has since issued an apology for the unacceptable wait time.
NIAS attributed the delay to "high levels of pressure" within the system, citing factors such as delayed hospital handovers and reduced ambulance availability. These challenges, described as "circumstances beyond our control," significantly impacted their response capabilities. The service emphasized its commitment to prioritizing life-threatening emergencies but acknowledged that such lengthy waits are not indicative of their desired standard of care.
The patient, who has Parkinson's disease, a degenerative condition affecting muscle communication, found it difficult to remain still due to her condition. She is currently at Antrim Area Hospital, awaiting transfer to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. NIAS also noted that duplicate 999 calls add pressure and requested the public refrain from calling back for updates unless a patient's condition deteriorates.
