‘Dozens’ have complained about delays
A Wearside MP says dozens of people have complained to her about ambulance service delays after the Echo reported how a pensioner died following an eight-hour wait for paramedics.
Raymond Henry Davidson, 69, died after taking ill at his house in Washington on June 9 last year while suffering from volvulus, which is when a loop of intestine twists around itself, causing bowel obstruction.
Sunderland coroner Derek Winter concluded the inquest by ruling that Raymond died of natural causes with a rider of neglect, and the NEAS issued an apology to his family.
Mr Winter added that he would be writing to health secretary Jeremy Hunt after what he deemed as a “gross failure” to get an ambulance to Raymond.
There has been significant pressure on the North East Ambulance Service in the past few years, with the recent Christmas and New Year period seeing huge levels of demand hit the service, with more than 40,000 NHS111 and more than 16,000 999 calls between December 23 and January 1.
The figures showed a sharp rise from the same period in the previous year, which saw about 28,000 NHS111 calls and 15,000 999 calls.
Now, MP Sharon Hodgson, who Raymond’s family have written to highlighting their concerns over the 111 system, says that she has been contacted by dozens of people in her constituency about worries over the availability of ambulances.
Mrs Hodgson, who represents Washington and Sunderland, said: “Firstly, I pass on my deepest condolences to the family of Mr Davidson.
“This case is not an isolated one and far too many of my constituents have contacted me about the poor performance of the North East Ambulance Service over the years.
“Fortunately, they rarely end in tragedy as sadly happened in this case.
“That is why I have raised this issue numerous times with the North East Ambulance Service directly and in Parliament when I have the opportunity to do so.
“In 2016, I led a Westminster Hall Debate on the performance of North East Ambulance Service, summoned the chief executive in front of the Northern Group of Labour MPs and my Labour Party colleagues also regularly raise this in Health Questions.
“If there is anything the family would like me to do to escalate this further, then I urge them to please get in touch with me directly and I will do all that I can.”
The Department of Health was unable to comment when contacted by the Echo.
“This case is not an isolated one” SHARON HODGSON