A FOREST care worker, whose patient required an ambulance, claims he was left for six hours because paramedics didn’t deem his condition a ‘priority’.

Elizabeth Smith, who works for QCare, told the Review she found Mr Clemson lying on the floor in his home in Lydney last Wednesday before she called for assistance.

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust says an additional 470 incidents every day compared to five years ago means it has to prioritise calls.

She said: “I visited Mr Clemson and found him lying on the floor. We, as carers, are not allowed to pick up a patient if they can’t do it themselves and so have to call paramedics who have the equipment to assist in this situation.

“I made the call at 9.18am and was told someone would be with us as soon as possible. I notified my manager as I had other calls to make but couldn’t leave this man on his own. 

“And so we waited, and waited, and waited. During this time I took five calls from the ambulance service asking if the circumstances had changed in any way, when I asked what was taking so long I was told he’s ‘not a priority, he’s not unconscious or bleeding’ and that they were very busy. The elderly man was becoming distressed and complaining of back pain caused by lying on the floor.

“A paramedic finally showed up at 3.05pm, within 10 minutes he had the man off the floor and onto his bed. I left the man at 4pm after making sure he was ok. I can’t tell you how disgusted I am with the ambulance service and I’m upset that this nearly 90 year-old was treated with such disregard.”

A spokesperson for South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust said: “The information provided during the call was that he was conscious, breathing and hadn’t sustained any injuries.

“A crew was not immediately available to respond but regular calls were made to check the patient’s condition before a crew arrived at 2:57pm.

“We are currently dealing with 470 more incidents every day than we were five years ago and have a finite number of resources with which to respond. As such we have to prioritise those calls which are life threatening, where patients are unconscious and not breathing.”