Apology Issued Following 10-Hour Ambulance Wait for Elderly Patient
A 74-year-old woman with Parkinson's disease, Irene Lowry, received an apology from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) after she endured a 10-hour wait for an ambulance following a fall at her home.
Julie Mayo, her daughter, reported that her mother was in severe pain on the floor after breaking her shoulder.
"We would have liked to have provided a much quicker response but were prevented from doing so because of circumstances beyond our control,"
a NIAS spokesperson stated.
The spokesperson acknowledged the public's frustration but emphasized that the ambulance service was operating under "high levels of pressure," which impacted its ability to respond promptly. This pressure was largely attributed to delayed hospital handovers and a reduced number of available ambulances.
"It's just awful, it was just horrendous to hear your mother lying screaming and yelling out for help,"
Julie said.
"This just shouldn't have happened, it should never happen."
Details of the Incident
Speaking on The Nolan Show on Thursday, Julie described the events of Tuesday afternoon when her mother fell at home around 15:00 BST. She called for an ambulance at approximately 15:25.
"She was in extreme agony and was lying on the floor. She was screaming, obviously with broken bones,"
Julie recounted.
She made further calls to the ambulance service in desperation but was informed that they could not provide a time frame for ambulance arrival.
Julie also contacted her local GP to request interim pain relief, but was told that she would have to wait for the ambulance.
"I rang the ambulance again at 18:00 and pleaded with them, and they upgraded the call, but still couldn't give me an indication of what time. Then at nearly 22:10 I called again, but they still could not give any indication,"
she said.
Due to her Parkinson's disease, Irene was unable to lie still and, after enduring the pain on the floor, she managed with great difficulty to move onto the sofa.
"It was not until just after 01:00 that the ambulance arrived, and she had been screaming that whole time.
She has a fractured shoulder, and because of her Parkinson's, her shoulders keep rotating, so you can even hear her bones crunching."
Julie praised the NIAS staff working under difficult conditions but noted that their ability to respond was limited.
Julie informed NI that her mother is currently admitted to Antrim Area Hospital and is awaiting transfer to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
Understanding Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative neurological condition that affects communication between the brain and muscles.
It is commonly characterized by visible tremors or muscle rigidity. Individuals with Parkinson's may also experience a range of psychological symptoms.
NIAS Response and Ongoing Challenges
In a formal statement, NIAS expressed regret over the prolonged wait experienced by the patient.
"We would like to apologise to the patient who endured a lengthy wait for an ambulance to arrive following an incident at their home."
The service emphasized that it continues to prioritise the most seriously ill patients to ensure life-threatening emergencies receive the fastest possible response.
NIAS acknowledged that delays are "unacceptable" and do not reflect the standard of care it aims to provide. The service is collaborating with partners to improve patient flow and alleviate pressure on the system.
A significant factor contributing to delays is the time ambulances spend waiting to hand over patients at emergency departments, which limits crews' availability for 999 calls.
Additionally, NIAS warned that multiple duplicate 999 calls add further strain on resources and urged the public to avoid calling back for updates unless the patient's condition deteriorates.
