Pensioner left lying in rain for two hours waiting for ambulance is re-admitted to hospital

A great-grandmother who was left lying in the rain for two hours waiting for an ambulance has been re-admitted to hospital.

Evelyn Davey, 89, was left cold and in pain on the pavement after she slipped and fell outside the front door of a social club on Prescot Road, Ormesby.

She was eventually taken to Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital where she was treated for a broken arm.

However she was yesterday re-admitted to hospital after x-rays showed she also suffered a suspected broken hip as result of the fall.

The fall happened at about 12.30pm on Friday. An ambulance was asked to attend at 12.38pm however it failed to arrive until 2.40pm.

Mrs Davey’s son-in-law, Ray Porter, 61, said: “She was treated in hospital and had some tests done and then was brought home to rest.

“She has been recovering at home but we got a call from the hospital saying they wanted her to come back in as they believe she has broken her hip as well. They had reviewed the x-rays they had done.”

Ambulance chiefs blamed the service facing “high” demand at the time for the slow response.

After her fall, passers-by and club members tried to keep Mrs Davey as warm and dry as possible, placing blankets and umbrellas over her as she lay in agony.

At one point, helpers attempted to move her but they feared they would cause further harm as Mrs Davey was screaming.

Mr Porter said: “She has settled a bit now and is less upset and shaken by it all but I am still very angry.

“Everyone we speak to is disgusted about it.

“I understand the ambulance service has to prioritise callouts but she is 89-years-old. It is not something you expect to happen. She had an awful experience and she was badly injured as a result of the fall.”

Mr Porter said he plans to make a complaint to the North East Ambulance Service about the incident.

Ambulance responses are categorised between life-threatening “red” incidents, which crews should attend within eight minutes, or “green” incidents which should be reached between 20 minutes to an hour.