A 93-YEAR-OLD woman was left waiting more than two hours for medical attention after her son called 999.
And even when a paramedic turned up to offer assistance to the very poorly woman, it was a further three-quarters of an hour before an ambulance arrived to take her to hospital.
Barry Turner has branded the ambulance service “absolutely disgusting” after he was told to get urgent medical help for his ailing mother.
East Midlands Ambulance Service has now launched a full investigation into the way Mr Turner’s call was dealt with last month.
Mrs Turner was eventually treated at Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, for pneumonia, chest and urine infections.
Mr Turner (68), of Meridian Walk, Holbeach, said: “I’ve looked after my mum for 17 years and on the morning of July 24, I went to see how she was.
“I knew something wasn’t quite right because she didn’t look well at all, so I rang Park Road Surgery in Holbeach at 9.45am and left a message for her doctor.
“He got back to me at 10am and told me to dial 999 because my mum had to go to hospital.
“I rang 999 and got through to the receptionist who said ‘I don’t think this is an emergency and a nurse will get back to you within an hour’.”
Mr Turner said he had to ring 999 again at 11am when no one called him back and was finally told that his mother needed urgent medical attention.
“A paramedic came at 12.30pm and an ambulance came for my mum at 1.15pm,” Mr Turner said. “She got to Pilgrim Hospital at 2.15pm where she stayed for four weeks.
“I just think the way EMAS treated us was absolutely disgusting and it’s not good enough.”
An EMAS spokesman said: ‘We have received a formal complaint about this case from the lady’s son which is under investigation.
“As soon as the results are known, we will write to him with details of our findings.”