"I missed a critical appointment because the ambulance was late"

I had a critical appointment bringing two of my consultants together to look at the future treatment I needed. It took time to organize as consultants are busy and to find a mutually convenient time in their diaries was challenging.

On the day of the appointment, which was from 1: 30 – 3: 00pm, I was up at 6: 00 am to ensure I was ready in good time for the SW ambulance service to collect me and take me to the hospital. The ambulance did not arrive at my Weston seafront home until 1: 25pm. The driver called the consultants and asked whether it would be worth me going to the hospital given I would be late for the appointment in Bristol. The consultants said they would wait for me.

I think they assumed I would be going straight to the hospital but, in fact, the ambulance had two other patients to be taken to two other hospitals before I would be taken to my appointment.

Whilst the second patient was being dropped off a call came through from the consultants that I should be taken back home.

My GP arranged the transport for me and has done so previously, usually well in advance so I’m not sure what went wrong here.

I perfectly understand that things can go wrong but feel frustrated on this occasion, when it was important for me to get two busy consultants together and agree a way forward for me, that I was not able to make it.

I don’t want my file to state that I was a ‘no show’ when it was out of my hands.

I don’t want this to be seen as a complaint, SW ambulance do a good job. However, in this instance would like SW ambulance to send a letter of apology to both of the consultants as I feel their time has been wasted. I’d also like the letter to be copied to me.