An avoidable tragedy

[not4me]

God alone knows how this family has coped not only with the death an obviously much-loved man but with the coroner's verdict that his death may have been avoided.

Where do you start? A man who had collapsed on his bathroom floor was not deemed as an urgent case, the St John's ambulance manned by first-aiders that was dispatched, the fact that a backlog, not at North Tees or James Cook, but at North Durham Hospital caused a shortage of ambulances.

Read it and understand the appalling state of health cover we now have.

http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/local/hartlepool-man-died-after-waiting-two-hours-for-ambulance-1-6572190

[tankerville]

My neighbours wife came out of hospital she had terminal cancer she fell out of bed he was unable to lift her he dialled 999 for an ambulance they said one was not available because it was not deemed as an emergency.

He begged on the phone for someone to come and help, the control room said patient transport would be arranged the next day. Monday.

Unable to cope he franticly sought help elsewhere finally a doctor arrived she had a suspected broken arm a few hours later she sadly passed away 'in great pain'

That poor man stood in front of me telling me what had happened to his lovely wife all the while shaking crying his eyes out. I couldn't do anything to console him, it broke my heart.

All this happened and Hartlepool Hospital less than 1 mile from his home.