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Nurse dies 'writhing in agony' after TWO HOUR wait for ambulance
Last updated at 01:52am on 22.08.08
A nurse suffering a brain haemorrhage died after waiting two hours for an ambulance.
Martina Simmons, 36, collapsed in agony after arriving home from a late shift, and her husband Shaun phoned NHS Direct.
A paramedic arrived within three minutes and called for an ambulance because he was unable to take her to hospital himself.
Blissfully happy: Martina and Shaun Simmons on their wedding day
But despite ringing his colleagues every ten minutes a crew did not arrive for more than two hours - 15 times longer than the Government target time of eight minutes.
By the time Mrs Simmons arrived at the hospital where she worked, doctors said it was too late for life-saving surgery and she died the next day.
Yesterday, her husband described his wife 'writhing and thrashing' in agony at their home in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, as they waited for the ambulance.
The 39-year-old Navy reservist said: 'I think about it every day - Martina could have had a chance if the ambulance got to her sooner.
Heartbroken: Shaun says Martina 'was my everything'
'I made the call and they told me an ambulance would be on its way. I never believed it would take more than two hours for them to arrive.
'Martina was in absolute agony and the first responder paramedic was ringing every ten minutes asking where the ambulance was. It was awful.
'Martina was writhing and thrashing in pain. I couldn't take her myself because I had my young son in bed and needed to make arrangements with my ex-wife to pick him up.'
First responders are qualified paramedics who can quickly assess a patient's needs but are not able to take them to hospital because their vehicles do not carry the necessary equipment.
Mr Simmons, who married his Slovakian wife three years ago, has launched a campaign for more ambulances in Weston.
Needless loss: Nurse Martina Simmons
He added: 'Martina was my everything, she gave me a burst of new life and plans for the future. Her death has left me utterly broken.
'I was told on the night that there were only two ambulances covering the Weston area.
That, on a Friday night in a busy resort town, is nowhere near enough.'
Great Western Ambulance Service apologised and said it had launched a full investigation.
Clinical director Dr Ossie Rawstorne said: 'The delay in back-up to transport the patient to hospital was completely unacceptable.'
The news comes a day after the Healthcare Commission criticised GWAS for taking 42 minutes to respond after 23-year-old Rebecca Wedd was hit by a car in Cirencester. She died the next day.
Reader views (5)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
Why were more ambulances not on call that night?! Chances are, of course, there were probably enough to cover the area geographically but they were so busy running drunks and kids with sore throats to hospital that they couldn't respond when they were really needed. What a waste of life. Sympathies must go to her family now. All credit to the FRU paramedic, however, for whom it must have been heartbreaking not being able to transport his patient.
- Jack, London, UK
Where is your tax going?On every attention seeker and alcoholic and idiot who wants a lift.
Also people who are too lazy and selfish to get themselves to A+E,system abusers who think if they get an Ambulance they'll be seen quicker.People who fall asleep drunk and someone rings for an Ambulance for them.
Amazing new stop the clock strategies like in the article where the service would call the above incident a success because there was a member of staff on scene.
Need I go on?
Also Maria, it's tragic or not acceptable.Not disgusting. Disgusting turns your stomach. With comments like that, I'm doubtful you make such contributions anyway.
RIP and sympathies to the family.
- Colin, Liverpool, England
I appreciate that this story highlights the lack of ambulances, and I sympathise with Mr Simmons' great pain, but I ask (and he must be asking himself the same question): why didn't he take his son out of bed & put him in the car & just drive his wife to hospital? Perhaps the ambulance service continually told him they'd be there in 10 minutes.
- Emily, Worthing, UK
Disgusting! I wonder where my more than 40% in tax contribution is actually going?!
- Maria, London
You couldn't put your young son in the car with you? Please!
- L Hebb, El Cajon Ca USA
