A tragic incident has left a community in shock after a man bled to death following a lengthy wait for an ambulance to arrive. Peter Parker, who accidentally cut his wrist at home, found himself in a dire situation when he called for emergency assistance. The call for help was made at 9.10pm on September 10, 2021, with Mr Parker reporting to the call handler that he had cut a vein and blood was pumping out of his wrist. However, within just three and a half minutes into the call, the line disconnected, leaving Mr Parker in urgent need of assistance.
According to a report by Coroner Aled Gruffydd, the ambulance did not reach Mr Parker until nine and a half hours later, at 7.09am on September 11, 2021. This significant delay tragically resulted in Mr Parker’s death. The report highlighted that the call had been categorized as an Amber 1 priority, to be dealt with after red priority calls were addressed. It was revealed that ambulances were tied up at emergency departments, causing delays in responding to urgent calls.
The Coroner expressed concerns over the response time, stating that it exceeded the expected survival window for such a serious injury. The report indicated that the delay was primarily due to ambulances waiting to offload patients at hospitals, as per the ambulance’s duty of care. The tragic death of Mr Parker was attributed to a haemorrhage from a transected radial artery, exacerbated by the delayed arrival of the ambulance.
Following the incident, a prevention of future deaths report was issued by the Coroner to address the systemic issues that led to the prolonged response time. The report has been forwarded to the Welsh Ambulance Service, Swansea Bay University Health Board, and the Welsh Government for their review and proposed actions to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
As the community grapples with the loss of a life due to avoidable circumstances, questions have been raised about the efficiency of emergency response systems and the prioritization of ambulance services. The need for timely and effective emergency medical assistance has been emphasized, urging authorities to address any bottlenecks that may impede swift responses to critical calls for help.
This heartbreaking incident serves as a reminder of the critical role emergency services play in saving lives and the devastating consequences that can occur when there are delays in providing essential medical care. It underscores the importance of continuous evaluation and improvement of emergency response protocols to ensure that prompt and efficient assistance is accessible to all in times of need.