Gran, 79, died after waiting more than 13 hours for an ambulance
A POORLY gran died after waiting more than 13 hours for an ambulance, an inquest heard.
Jean Frickel’s husband was warned by operators of extreme delays when he rang 999.
He called the next morning to say Jean, 79, had stopped breathing.
Paramedics arrived five minutes later but Jean, who was very ill with heart problems, had died at her home in Buckley, Flintshire, North Wales.
Consultant Richard Cowell said if the ambulance arrived sooner she may have lived “a few more weeks” but had been ill.
Gillian Pleming, of the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust, said: “Due to significant handover delays at hospitals, we were unable to get to Mrs Frickel sooner.”
Coroner Katie Sutherland told the hearing in Ruthin she feared more people would die due to ambulance hold-ups.
She said: “Despite assurances of change, the issue still remains and the multi-factoral issues involve not just the ambulance service but the health boards, the local authorities and social care.
“Due to the time it took for the ambulance to arrive, Jean Frickel was denied the opportunity for possible life-extending treatment at hospital.”