Man, 87, waits seven hours for ambulance on garden centre floor

An 87-year-old great-grandfather endured a seven-hour wait for an ambulance after falling and breaking his leg at a garden center. The incident occurred at Craigend Nursery and Coffee Shop in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire.

James Craig, from Coatbridge, was visiting the nursery with his daughter, Marie, on October 22 when the fall happened around midday. The extensive delay meant the garden center had to remain open well beyond its usual closing time of 5 PM.

Mariann Whitson, Mr. Craig's granddaughter, expressed her dismay with the ambulance service following the ordeal. She contacted the BBC through Your Voice, Your BBC News, to share her family's experience. She recounted how her grandfather became extremely pale as the hours passed.

After the incident, Mr. Craig spent several weeks in the hospital, undergoing a hip replacement. He is now recovering at home. The Scottish Ambulance Service has issued an apology to Mr. Craig, citing significant pressure on the day of the incident.

According to Ms. Whitson, the family was initially informed that an ambulance would arrive within two hours, as the situation was considered a high priority. While Mr. Craig waited, other visitors to the garden center had to navigate around him as he lay on the floor. Ms. Whitson, along with her husband, father, and brother, arrived at the scene to provide assistance.

"His leg had swollen up so badly, and he just screamed in pain whenever you touched it," Ms. Whitson stated. After two hours, they were informed that all ambulances had been rerouted to Glasgow and were unavailable. A paramedic suggested they attempt to move him into a car, a suggestion Ms. Whitson felt was unsafe and against health and safety training. When they tried to move him, his pain was so intense that they couldn't proceed.

Ms. Whitson described feeling frustrated and helpless, questioning what hope others could have if an 87-year-old man was left in such a situation. The family even considered using something as a makeshift stretcher, leading to a desperate search around the garden center for suitable materials. A doctor eventually arrived and administered morphine to alleviate Mr. Craig's pain but had to leave afterward, instructing the family to monitor him and call again if his condition worsened.

Ms. Whitson praised the garden center staff for their assistance but expressed a loss of faith in the NHS. She said she now views ambulances as unreliable and has lost confidence that they will be available when needed. An ambulance eventually arrived from Stirling, which Ms. Whitson estimated to be around 8:30 PM, though the Scottish Ambulance Service says it was about 90 minutes earlier. Mr. Craig was then transported to Wishaw General Hospital and seen by doctors in the early hours of the following day. He was diagnosed with a broken leg and a hip injury.

Ms. Whitson reported that her grandfather was delirious for several days following the incident and underwent testing for dementia, which was ruled out. Doctors attributed his delirium to shock from the fall. His release from the hospital was delayed due to issues with securing a full care package. The family is now relieved that he is home for Christmas.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Ambulance Service stated: "We would like to apologize to Mr. Craig for the delay in the ambulance response and for any distress caused. Our service was under significant pressure on 22 October due to sustained and significant pressures at hospitals in the Lanarkshire area, including delays of up to five hours. We have been working closely with NHS Lanarkshire to support the longest waiting patients but understand the distress to patients caused. These waits also prevent our crews from getting back out on the road to treat other patients."

NHS Lanarkshire stated that the case is a matter for the Scottish Ambulance Service. The incident is part of a trend of increasing ambulance waiting times throughout Scotland. In September, First Minister John Swinney apologized to a young footballer who waited five hours for an ambulance after breaking her leg. Last month, Health Secretary Neil Gray apologized after Queen's Park footballer Charles Fox waited nearly 10 hours for an ambulance with a dislocated knee.