An injured pensioner claims he was told to wait up to four hours for an ambulance to take him “100 yards” to the A&E department. Philip Jones had been taken to Southmead Hospital by a bus driver after he was accidently injured by the vehicle's closing doors, leaving him bleeding from a leg wound.
The 78-year-old boarded a First Bus from Catbrain Lane in Patchway when the incident happened. The former medic is prone to blood clots due to a heart condition so needed medical assistance.
Mr Jones told Bristol Live that the concerned bus driver contacted the emergency services but was told there would be a three to four-hour wait for an ambulance so decided to drop him off at A&E at Southmead Hospital. The pensioner said after the other passengers boarded another bus, the worried driver drove him to the main hospital entrance and rushed to find a medical staff.
READ MORE: ‘Exhausted’ nurses and healthcare assistants in Bristol feel ‘undervalued’ and ‘demoralised’
Mr Jones said he was stunned to learn that a manager at the hospital “demanded” he stayed on the bus as it would be “three or four hours” before an ambulance crew could take him 100 yards down to the emergency department. He said he was approached by a doctor who explained everything to him but decided to make his own way off the bus and steadily walk toward the emergency department before being offered a wheelchair.
A North Bristol NHS Trust spokesperson said: “We are sorry to hear of these concerns, we are looking into what happened on this occasion so that we can better understand whether our standard operating procedure was followed. That procedure does not involve calling an ambulance.”
Mr Jones, who lives in Patchway, says he is appalled that the hospital had not considered the increased pressure on ambulance services when they suggested he wait for hours despite already being on-site and simply requiring a wheelchair. “They’re already rushed off their feet,” he added.
He said he "never saw a doctor" after waiting several hours and being told there would be a further delay of up to four more. Frustrated by this, he decided to stop the bleeding himself by taping toilet paper around the wound before leaving. Despite his ordeal, he said it was thanks to the bus driver’s quick thinking that he was able to receive the care he needed.
A spokesperson for First West of England said: "Our quick-thinking driver showed great empathy and common sense when he took this customer to the hospital. We are very proud of him and it’s great to hear that the customer has praised him. We will make sure to pass the customer’s praise on to the driver and celebrate this achievement. Many of our drivers are heroes in the communities we serve."
READ NEXT:
- Bristol’s demand for doctors and dentists, one of the highest in the UK
- Bristol midwife quits after working under ‘terrifying’ conditions while relying on foodbanks,
- Bristol teen Oliver McGowan's legacy lives on as health staff trained on learning disability and autism
- Bristol doctor and XR protester acquitted in court after blocking Lambeth Bridge
- Southmead: How has the pandemic changed one of Bristol's most deprived areas?
