"Response time for ambulance"

My husband had a fall and some guys playing golf heard his groans and went to his rescue. They immediately rang for an ambulance.  He fell over a small wall (backwards) and landed in the road (residential).  Because of health issues I was not available to help straight away, but got to the scene 10 minutes later.  The golfers told me they had rung for an ambulance as my husband couldn't be moved at all because of the pain he was in.  I gathered together cushions, blankets etc to get him warm (the road was wet as it was raining so needed to cover him in a ground sheet to stop the rain soaking him.) 

We were told no time could be given for an ambulance arriving.  The golfers stayed with me as they realised I had problems myself.  After 5 calls to 999 and three hours later the ambulance arrived, paramedics apologising that it had taken so long, they said it was awful to have had to wait so long in those conditions, and especially as he is elderly.  I rang 999 twice, the first time admittedly I was very frantic and did swear - I had the phone put down on me.  I shouldn't have sworn, I know, but having sat in the drizzle and cold for over two hours by then I was getting very frustrated.

He got to hospital and was found to have dislocated shoulder, broken humerus and a broken hip.  A&E at the time had a 1-2 hour waiting list, with very few patients in the department.  I don't think the ambulance that picked up my husband was from Barnstaple, so I'd like to know what actually went on.  Paramedics were brilliant when they got to us.  His treatment in North Devon District hospital has been brilliant since being admitted.