Shropshire man's hour ambulance wait with broken leg
A dog walker who fell and broke his leg at a beauty spot in Shropshire had to wait more than an hour for an ambulance – which was sent from the opposite end of the county.
Ian Alexander, who injured himself after slipping on wet grass at Dearnford Lake, near Whitchurch, had to sit outdoors in wind and rain while he waited for an ambulance to arrive from Ludlow – about 50 miles away.
He was treated at the scene by a GP who was part of a dog training group using the lake at the time. A rapid response vehicle arrived at the scene more than 25 minutes after the emergency call was made – within the 30 minute response time for a non-life threatening ankle injury – and it took a further 40 minutes for the ambulance to arrive.
It has since emerged that the initial emergency call was mistakenly routed to North West Ambulance Service due to the proximity of the site to the Cheshire border.
Mr Alexander's wife Jacky said she was "extremely concerned" about the delay.
But officials at West Midlands Ambulance Service today said the delay was down to issues beyond their control and said the nearest available ambulance had been sent.
Mr Alexander, a 59-year-old retired herdsman from Wrexham Road, Whitchurch, fell on June 23. He returned home on Thursday after having a 12-inch steel bar and six bolts put in his leg.
Murray MacGregor from the ambulance service said: "Mr Alexander received excellent patient care five minutes after the trust was made aware of the location."
He added: "The nearest available ambulance was sent to this case but the time taken is a reflection on the very considerably increased demand in Shropshire the continued lack of funding provided to the trust."
By Dani Wozencroft
