"Ambuline Contract to Russells Hall Hospital"

Yesterday i attended The Eye Clinic with my Mother who is 95 yrs of age and unable to see. The staff within the clinic were faultless and treated Mom with Dignity and respect . The Receptionist booked Mom a return ambulance to her care home at 2.45pm. At 4.45pm she was still waiting in her wheelchair and had not even been designated a driver which we understand it is then a further couple of hours wait. I was not prepared to leave her any longer. The reason why we chose transportation by Ambulance was it tends to hurt Mom getting her in and out of a car and much easier to transport her in a wheelchair. It is also difficult for me as I have Tenosynovitis in the one hand. I carried her into the car and managed to get her back. Ambuline cannot say that this was a one off problem as this has happened most time i have used them for Mom and it is evident from both staff and patients in general there is a problem. It is even more annoying that when i popped outside to make a phone call there were 7 ambulances parked up under the canopy with all the drivers and crews there just chatting ( and most smoking which doesnt look best out the front of a major hospital). Its a complete joke and either Ambuline have got to get their act together or put a tender out elsewhere or bring the service inhouse because it is clearly not working at present