This is Hull and East Riding --A SIX-YEAR-OLD girl had to wait 70 minutes for an ambulance after collapsing in a supermarket – despite being a mile from an ambulance station and a hospital.
Olivia Powell, who is now being tested for a heart abnormality, collapsed in Hull and had to wait for an ambulance from Withernsea to take her to Hull Royal Infirmary.
She fell ill in the Iceland store in Hessle Road, which is 0.8 miles from the Gipsyville ambulance station and 1.3 miles from Hull Royal Infirmary. Her family had to wait for an ambulance to arrive from Withernsea, about 20 miles away.
A rapid response car arrived after about 20 minutes but the vehicle was not equipped to transport patients.
Her family say they are "absolutely disgusted" at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, which controls ambulance 999 calls and vehicles.
Olivia's mum Kathryn Powell, 34, said: "It got to the point where we wanted to take her to hospital in the car but the rapid responder told us it was dangerous.
"He kept radioing to try and see where the ambulance was.
"It was getting to the point where, even though he is not meant to, he was planning on taking her in the rapid response car anyway.
"But then the ambulance arrived and they said they'd had to come from Withernsea.
"I was panicking anyway because she had collapsed but having to wait that long made me a nervous wreck.
"I thought 20 minutes for a rapid responder was long enough but 70 minutes for an ambulance was just appalling."
Olivia and her mum, who live in Hessle, were out shopping with Kathryn's sister when the little girl became unwell.
They were in Iceland on the afternoon of December 30 when Kathryn thought Olivia was having a fit.
"I thought she was fitting and she was hot so I took her coat off and she started to collapse in my arms," said Kathryn. "My sister ran to call the shop staff and I was shouting for help.
"The staff were very good and helped us calm down.
"She was slipping in and out of consciousness."
Eventually, the family thought they had no choice and decided to risk transporting her to Hull Royal Infirmary by car.
Kathryn set off in her own car, expecting to meet her daughter and the rapid responder at the hospital. But then an ambulance arrived from Withernsea.
Kathryn said: "We first called 999 at 1.30pm and when I arrived at the hospital, it was 2.45pm.
"When we went past the Gipsyville ambulance station later on, there were four ambulances lined up there and that is round the corner from Iceland.
"I couldn't believe it.
"I'm already on medication for anxiety but all this has caused me more stress.
"For 70 minutes, I was panicking and saying 'Where are they?'
"My partner, Stuart Foster, was working in Hessle at the time and I called him to tell him what had happened.
"He drove from hospital expecting to meet us there but he was there for an hour before we turned up."
Olivia is now resting at home after her ordeal.
Doctors believe she may have a minor heart abnormality. It is not thought to be significant enough to keep her in hospital, but she will be having further tests and examinations in future.
Kathryn and Stuart now plan to file an official complaint to Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust about the ordeal.
Vince Larvin, the locality director of A&E operations for North and East Yorkshire at the ambulance trust, said: "We aim to reach all of our patients as quickly as possible and would like to apologise to Olivia and her family for the distress caused following this 999 call on December 30.
"An ambulance clinician in a rapid response vehicle was first on scene and was able to provide immediate medical assessment and care until the arrival of the nearest available ambulance to convey the patient to Hull Royal Infirmary.
"We understand that Olivia has been discharged from hospital and wish her well with her recovery.
"We would encourage Olivia's family to call our Patient Relations team on 0345 122 0535 so we can look into the matter on their behalf and respond directly to them."
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