UK Ambulance Service Apologizes to Boy for Not Sending EMS
The boy's leg was impaled on the handlebars, but the dispatcher didn't send help.
THE ambulance service has apologised to the mother of a boy who was left waiting in agony after he impaled himself on his bike handlebars.
Despite repeated 999 calls no ambulance was sent to help Cameron Smith when his bike stuck in the top of his leg as he fell on a cycle path in Gregson Avenue, Gosport.
As reported in The News an ambulance was not sent for the 10-year-old because, after speaking to him, the call handler didn’t think the incident was serious enough.
Cameron was later taken to hospital by a family friend and needed eight stitches to his leg. His mum Kim Smith and her father-in-law Grayden complained to South Central Ambulance Service following his accident on May 12.
Now the ambulance service have sent Mrs Smith, of Totland Road, Bridgemary, a letter of apology. But she wants health officials to make changes to the way 999 calls are handled.
She said: ‘I’m glad that I have received an apology but the ambulance service needs to think about improving its policy.
‘How can a 10-year-old boy with a handlebar stuck in his leg explain to a call handler how serious his injury is?
‘He was obviously in a lot of shock and didn’t want to look at it.
‘Someone should have been there to help him.
‘I am now looking to meet with Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage to see if she can make changes.’
