"Disgusted with the whole situation!"

On a day in mid sept this year at 1.10ish, I phoned 999 and asked to be put through to ambulance service.  On connection, I advised the female call handler that my 87 year old father had collapsed and had been passed out (we don’t know how long for) and he was bleeding from his back passage (he has Diverticulitis).  I was asked questions then advised that an ambulance would be sent.  I phoned back about 2.5/3 hours later to ask what was happening and repeated what had taken place and also that my Dad had been lying on the floor this whole time as when we tried to move him, he was crying out in pain with his ankle and we were afraid we might hurt him more.  I was advised that the ambulance was told that the ambulance was ordered and I was not to call back unless his condition worsened, to which I was astounded.  My husband and son again tried to lift my Dad as he had by then been lying on the floor for about 5 hours.  We couldn’t as he was in pain so we put cushions under him and wrapped a quilt around him to try and keep him warm and make him a bit more comfortable.  I phoned back again and was told by the female call handler that it was down as a priority and she could only apologise for the delay, this was now 5 hours later, disgusting.

 

At 7 pm, I received a call from a Paramedic who had just started his shift and had read the notes in relation to my Dad, they were  disgusted and appalled that my Dad had been left for so long without any medical assistance and said they would get someone to him.  About 7.15ish, a paramedic in a care turned up and when I told him how long my Dad had been lying there for he was totally shocked.  They asked if anyone had phoned me (apart from the Paramedic at 7 pm) and advised no, they said they should have been calling every hour.  The ambulance arrived at 7.30.  The paramedic and ambulance crew were outstanding and looked after my Dad exceptionally well and they too were appalled that my 87 year old Dad had been left lying on a floor for 6.5 hours and said it was totally unacceptable.

 

I would like this looked into and a response sent as I am absolutely disgusted with the whole situation.  My Dad is now in Glasgow Royal Infirmary where they are monitoring him re his blood loss, and indeed, his ankle, which has turned out to be fractured hence the pain he was in.

 

I did not expect the ambulance to appear right away, but never in a million years did I think it would take 6.5 hours !  I have cc in my MSP so he is aware of what has happened too.