Woman who died from Covid pneumonia waited nine hours for an ambulance after fall at home

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A woman who died from Covid pneumonia waited nine hours for an ambulance after a fall at home. Patricia Green also faced a three hour wait to see a doctor after arriving at A&E at Tameside hospital, a coroner's report says.

It details how Mrs Green was left lying on the floor, unable to use the toilet, with her breathing deteriorating following the fall last summer.

Mrs Green died of Covid pneumonia on June 30, 2022. Read more: Manchester Airport infestation leaves mice 'jumping all over' cabin crew staff Following an inquest in Stockport in January, Alison Mutch, senior coroner for Manchester South, has now written a report to the Health Secretary highlighting concerns about delays to Ms Green's treatment. "The inquest heard that the shortage of ambulances was due to a number of factors including high demand and a shortage of crews due to long delays at emergency departments across Greater Manchester to offload patients," Ms Mutch wrote in the prevention of future deaths report published last week. "The evidence before the inquest was that the delay on the day [the deceased] was waiting for an ambulance was not unusual and still remained the case on the day of the inquest." Listing her 'matters of concern' Ms Mutch added: "Mrs Green had a long wait for an ambulance, despite her age and the recognised risks of being on the floor for a prolonged period of time, due to a shortage of ambulances.

Mrs Green deteriorated whilst waiting to be taken to hospital. "The inquest heard that Mrs Green's wait of three hours in ED (emergency department) was not unusual and was due to the volume of patients waiting to be seen and the overall demand on ED.