A 70-year-old woman has told how she had to wait six hours in agony for paramedics to arrive, and a further two hours to be admitted to hospital, following a serious fall.
n a case that highlights the shocking state of Northern Ireland’s health system, Mary Cole then had surgery for a suspected broken hip postponed several times.
She has been left in tears by her ordeal.
Mrs Cole described how she fell outside her home in Manse Court in Millisle, Co Down, at around 3pm on Monday. After calling 999, she was told she had to wait for paramedics to arrive.
“[The operator] said to just lie there until the paramedics come, there’s not much they can do about it. They said it had been recorded. We must have phoned 10 times and they kept saying we just had to wait our turn,” Mrs Cole said.
“My husband said ‘My wife’s lying here in agony’ and I hadn’t even had painkillers or anything. It wasn’t a very nice experience.
“It was freezing and then the rain came on. One of my neighbours got this massive umbrella to try and cover us. My husband and daughter-in-law were holding me up because I couldn’t lie down. I was in excruciating pain. It was awful.”
Her son Dennis arrived from work to find her in the same spot where she fell, waiting for the paramedics, and being treated by friends and family.
“I finished work and came round. My wife and neighbours were here,” he said. “They had put blankets over her.
“We called 999 and their advice was not to move my mum, because my mum’s so frail and has had medical issues. So, she was basically lying on the concrete from the time the accident happened.
“My mum’s been sick most of my life. She had cancer whenever we were children. The treatment she got left her body in a very fragile condition. She has difficulties with her spine, she’s had difficulty breathing. She had a stroke about ten years ago and she has a heart condition,” Dennis said.
Mrs Cole was stabilised and placed in the ambulance at around 8.30pm, but it would be over two hours before she was admitted to the Ulster Hospital, Dundonald.
Mr Cole added: “She was given pain relief when she went into the ambulance, but it then had to wait in a queue at the hospital, so my mum didn’t actually get into the hospital until half 11 that night.”
Mrs Cole explained: “It was about three hours when we eventually got there. The paramedics gave me pain medication and I got some when I got in, but I was in agony.”
On Tuesday night, Mrs Cole was moved to a corridor for several hours while her room was being prepared.
She added: “I was on the corridor [on Tuesday night], behind plastic sheeting. Lying there, waiting on the room being made.
“I didn’t get a room till after 11, and they brought me there at 8. I just kept asking when the room was ready. That’s all I could do.”
Mrs Cole needs a hip operation due to the fall and was booked for surgery yesterday. It had already been postponed several times, according to her son.
“My dad went to the hospital with her and was told surgery would be Monday night, or in the morning. Then whenever we went up to see her on Tuesday at the hospital, they said that it had been postponed. They didn’t say why,” he added.
“They then said the surgery would probably be done on Wednesday. The surgeon came to see my mum on Wednesday morning and told her that surgery isn’t going to be that day. My mum’s in a lot of pain, even with the medication she has.”
Mrs Cole said a lack of communication has also left her frustrated, adding: “I’ve been told I have to fast because I can’t eat in case I get my operation.”
Mr Cole added: “It’s despair at the minute, I feel like my head’s boiled and my dad is stressed out over it. It’s not going to help him, he has heart issues and is my mum’s carer.
“The last time she was long term in the hospital was when she had the stroke, maybe 12 years ago, and it was brilliant. It was straight into the hospital. Into the ward and looked after.
“My mum has had a hard life and has been sick all her life, but I have never seen or heard her cry. My mum never cries. This brought her to tears. She was crying to my daddy on the phone.
“This is about wanting to see someone care enough to see change.”
A South Eastern Trust spokesperson said: “We continue to experience significant pressures in our emergency department and as a consequence, regrettably, there are delays for patients requiring admission to our wards. We apologise to patients and their families for these delays. We wish to emphasise that staff continue to care for patients and prioritise those most in urgent need of admission.”
The NI Ambulance Service was contacted for comment.
