A MAN with motor neurone disease spent almost a full day on a trolley in a corridor at Hull Royal Infirmary, after waiting more than three hours for an ambulance.
Former Goole mayor John Mant became seriously ill at a nursing home at the weekend and staff called an ambulance. But the paramedic only arrived three hours later.
Mr Mant, 82, was then taken to Hull Royal Infirmary but his family say he spent 19 hours on a trolley in a corridor as the hospital struggles to cope with record numbers of patients seeking treatment at its Emergency Department (ED).
Last night, Labour councillor Keith Moore, a member of East Riding Council's health, care and wellbeing overview and scrutiny committee, who also represents Goole North where Mr Mant lives, said: "This is totally unacceptable. It's not the hospital, the staff or the ambulance service's fault.
"This is yet another example of this Government's NHS reorganisation, which has resulted in the health service being in utter chaos.
"Staff are working 13 hours with just a 20-minute break and, until these issues are addressed, lives are at risk."
An investigation has been launched into Mr Mant's care as staff at Hull Royal Infirmary face intense pressure because of record numbers of patients.
Operations have been cancelled to free up beds and staff as latest figures show only 64 per cent of patients are being treated and discharged or admitted to a ward within the four-hour target, one of the worst rates in the country.
And a "Friends and Family" survey of patients has revealed more than 23 per cent of patients would not recommend the ED to relatives compared to just six per cent in April last year.
Mr Mant, who was also a member of Humberside County Council, was taken ill at Westfield Park nursing home in Goole on Saturday and staff at the home called Yorkshire Ambulance Service at 1.15pm.
When the ambulance failed to arrive, they called again at 3pm but the paramedic did not arrive until 4.23pm.
Vince Larvin, of Yorkshire Ambulance Service, apologised for the delay.
He said: "The call came in during a period of unprecedented demand – our busiest weekend since the trust's formation in 2006 – and we were doing our best to respond as quickly as possible to patients who needed our assistance.
"We would like to reassure members of the public that our main priority continues to be providing a safe, responsive and high-quality service to the people of Yorkshire."
A spokesman for Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Hull Royal Infirmary, said an investigation was under way into Mr Mant's care after his family complained.
He said: "Their experience falls below the standard of care we aim to provide and we sincerely apologise for this.
"It is no secret that the hospital has been experiencing significant pressures over recent weeks. However, our staff are doing the best they possibly can to manage a high volume of seriously ill patients under difficult circumstances.
"We are already in the process of addressing some of the difficulties, and this work involves freeing up more hospital beds and more consultant time, as well as speeding up the discharge of patients who no longer need to be in hospital."
East Riding Clinical Commissioning Group, which pays the hospital for treating patients, expressed concern over the waiting times at its meeting this week.
Executive nurse Hilary Gledhill, director of quality and governance, said: "We are aware of the pressure at the moment. We are looking at the impact on patient experience and patient safety.
"We are very concerned around the Friends and Family test and the treatment there and we hope to see that start to improve."
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