Mother forced to drive three-year-old who fell through glass to hospital after she is told there are no ambulances

Sobbing Nathan Ramsey cut open his head and gashed his neck when he stumbled through a pane of glass.

His mother Shelley, 32, was stunned when she called 999 and was told there were no ambulances and it would be quicker to take him by car.

Nathan's aunt Tracey, 35, drove him to Queen's Hospital in Romford, Essex, while his mother held a flannel to his bleeding neck.

She said: "There was glass and blood everywhere. Nathan was in shock and screaming. His head had gone through the bottom panel of a reinforced glass door which completely smashed."

"We tied the flannel round his neck on the way but there was so much blood, we didn't know where the cuts were. He was covered in glass and doctors had to pick it out of his hair."

She added: "It was ridiculous there weren't any ambulances. Had one of Nathan's major arteries been cut he could have died."

Nathan had cuts to his head, neck and chin glued back together by hospital staff and is now recovering at home.

London Ambulance Service admitted that all the ambulances were tied up with priority calls when Nathan's mother rang.

But they added the operator had checked Nathan was not unconscious through blood loss and they called back to check on the injured tot.

A spokesman said: "There were no ambulances immediately available and a control room staff member rang the family to let them know and apologise.

"The lady asked if they could take the boy to hospital themselves. Our staff member confirmed it might be quicker for them to do so."

"We did not suggest they should make their own way to accident and emergency but confirmed they could if they wished."

"Had they not suggested this, an ambulance would have been sent as soon as one become available."

"We're sorry for additional distress that may have been caused and invite the family to contact us for a detailed response."