Man left outside hospital waiting for ambulance

A man who collapsed outside a hospital emergency department was left outside on hot concrete for almost an hour after being forced to wait for an ambulance.

Palmerston North Hospital reception staff instructed bystanders to call an ambulance for the man who was lying in the hospital’s car park on Wednesday.

Hospital acting general manager Nicholas Glubb has defended the staff’s actions saying they would only assist if it was a medical emergency.

A woman, who did not wish to be named, said she was visiting her mother in hospital when she saw a young man collapse in the car park.

She said he was walking towards the entrance with his girlfriend when he dropped to the ground.

‘‘He said ‘it’s my back’ and I said hang on, I will go get a wheelchair.’’

After retrieving a wheelchair she had tried to get him into it but he could not move, so she went back inside to ask for a stretcher.

‘‘So I said to the woman at reception ‘where do I get a stretcher?’ and she said ‘this is going to sound really messed up, but you have to call an ambulance’.’’

She said she returned to the man, and called an ambulance while a security guard helped direct traffic through the car park.

But it was 55 minutes until an ambulance became available to transport him inside.

‘‘Nobody came out from A and E and they could have, they could have come out with a stretcher.

‘‘The guy was in agony. The whole time we were about 100 metres away from A and E doors.’’

She said the man’s position in the middle of the car park also put him in danger.

‘‘He was in the direct line of traffic. The security guard was pulled off duty because he was with us directing traffic.

‘‘The whole issue was a man on hot asphalt, sun streaming down on him, 100 metres from the door.’’

They called the ambulance three times and eventually he was transported to the hospital.

Glubb said they understood the circumstances were distressing for the person and those supporting them.

‘‘When staff are informed that a member of the public may be in need of medical attention while on the hospital grounds, staff will establish whether they require urgent medical attention.

‘‘If emergency care is required medical staff will be sent to assess and assist in the care of that person.

‘‘If it is not a medical emergency and the person is unable to bring themselves to the Emergency Department then an ambulance will be requested.’’

Glubb said ambulance personnel were trained to undertake the appropriate transfer of patients from outside the hospital environment, ensuring the safety of the person and of themselves.

‘‘While it might seem sensible for hospital staff to transfer a person from some distance away on a hospital trolley, this is best undertaken transport.’’

When called St John would have assessed the urgency and priority of the call, he said.

‘‘A member of hospital security stayed with the person until the ambulance arrived.’’

St John Manawatu operations manager Steve Yanko said the ambulances were stretched at the time.

‘‘There was a lot going on at the time. When there’s other, lifethreatening emergencies going on, people have to wait,’’ Yanko said.

It was concerning that no-one raised the issue with St John, he said. with appropriate