"7 hour ambulance wait"

About: Northern Ireland Ambulance Service / Emergency ambulance response Northern Ireland Ambulance Service / Emergency Control

(as a service user),

My mum became unwell at home and my sister rang for an ambulance. We now know that the pain she was experiencing was because of a twisted bowel. Her intense and significant pain was not brought under control for at least 7 hours due to the wait for an ambulance.

The staff - call handlers, paramedics - were all fantastic, compassionate and helpful, however the broken healthcare system that allowed my mother to remain in such pain for such a long time is unacceptable.

She died two days later and I will always ask myself why did her last ever Saturday night have to be in significant pain and discomfort? Why does the healthcare system allow this to happen? How stressful must this be for the fabulous staff who work within it?

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Responses

Response from Neil Gillan, Co-Production & Partnership Lead, Quality, Safety & Improvement, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service last week
Neil Gillan
Co-Production & Partnership Lead, Quality, Safety & Improvement,
Northern Ireland Ambulance Service
Submitted on 11/12/2024 at 10:25
Published on Care Opinion at 10:25


picture of Neil Gillan

Dear Brenda789,

My name is Neil Gillan, and I am the Co-production Partnership Lead with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, where I lead on the development and delivery of an organisational wide approach to Patient Client Experience. I am grateful to you for taking the time to share your experiences of the service. From the outset, I would like to offer my sincerest condolences on the passing of your mum and apologise to you and your family for the distress caused.

Please be assured that we continue to review resources internally within the organisation. We are also working closely with the Department of Health and the Strategic Planning and Performance Group to consider the resources required to provide a timely operational response. We are also working with local Emergency Departments to try to ensure that our patients can be handed over to hospital clinical teams as quickly as possible so that ambulances are able to respond to further emergencies.

I would like the opportunity to discuss this matter further with you, if you are able and when the time is right, please contact me directly on 07880022791 or neil.gillan@nias.hscni.net.

Yours Sincerely,

Neil

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