a 70-year-old woman told how she had to wait six hours in anxiety for paramedics to arrive, and a further two hours to be admitted to hospital, after a serious fall.
In a case highlighting the shocking state of Northern Ireland’s health system, Mary Cole then postponed surgery for a suspected broken hip several times.
She was left in tears by her ordeal.
Mrs Cole described how she fell outside her home in Manse Court in Millisle, Co Down around 3pm on Monday. After calling 999, she was told she had to wait for paramedics to show up.
“[The operator] said to just lie there until the paramedics come, there is not much they can do about it. They said it was recorded. “We probably called 10 times and they kept saying we just had to wait our turn,” said Mrs Cole.
“My husband said ‘My wife is lying here in anxiety’ and I did not even have painkillers or anything. It was not a very pleasant experience.
“It was icy and then the rain came. One of my neighbors got this massive umbrella to try to cover us. My husband and daughter-in-law held me because I could not lie down. I was in excruciating pain. It was awful. “
Her son Dennis arrived from work to find her at the same spot where she had fallen, while she waited for the paramedics and was treated by friends and family.
“I finished working and came. “My wife and neighbors were here,” he said. “They put blankets over her.
“We called 999 and their advice was not to move my mother, because my mother is so fragile and has medical problems. So, she’s basically been lying on the concrete since the accident happened.
“My mother was ill for most of my life. She had cancer when we were kids too. The treatment she received left her body in a very fragile condition. She has problems with her spine, she has difficulty breathing. “She had a stroke about ten years ago and she has a heart condition,” said Dennis.
Mrs Cole was stabilized and placed in the ambulance around 8.30pm, but it would take more than two hours before she was admitted to Ulster Hospital, Dundonald.
Mr Cole added: “She was given pain relief when she got into the ambulance, but it then had to wait in a queue at the hospital, so my mother did not actually get to the hospital until half past 11 that night.”
Mrs Cole explained: “It was about three hours when we finally arrived. The paramedics gave me pain medication and I got it when I got in, but I was in pain. “
On Tuesday night, Mrs Cole was moved to a corridor for several hours while her room was being prepared.
She added: “I was on the move [on Tuesday night], behind plastic plates. There lies waiting for the room being made.
“I only got a room after 11 and they brought me there at 8. I just kept asking when the room was ready. That’s all I could do. ”
Mrs Cole has to undergo hip surgery as a result of the fall and was booked for surgery yesterday. According to her son, it has already been postponed several times.
“My father went to the hospital with her and was told that the operation would be on Monday evening or in the morning. When we then went up to see her at the hospital on Tuesday, they said it had been postponed. They did not say why, “he added.
“They then said the operation would probably be done on Wednesday. The surgeon came to see my mother on Wednesday morning and told her that the operation was not going to be that day. My mother is in a lot of pain, even with the medication she has. ”
Mrs Cole said a lack of communication also left her frustrated, adding: “I was told I should fast because I can not eat when I get my surgery.”
Mr Cole added: “It’s despair at the moment, I feel like my head is boiling and my father is stressed about it. It’s not going to help him, he has heart problems and is my mother’s caregiver.
“The last time she was in the hospital for a long time was when she had the stroke, maybe 12 years ago, and it was brilliant. It was straight inside the hospital. Hall inside and looked after.
“My mother had a difficult life and was ill all her life, but I have never seen or heard her cry. My mother never cries. It brought her to tears. She cried for my dad over the phone.
“It’s about wanting to see that someone cares enough to see change.”
A spokesperson for the South Eastern Trust said: “We are still experiencing significant pressure in our emergency department and as a result there are unfortunately delays for patients who need admission to our wards. We apologize to patients and their families for these delays. We want to emphasize that staff continue to look after patients and prioritize those who need the most urgent admission. ”
The NI Ambulance Service was contacted for comment.