Charles Hall, 85, died following a fall that led to a heart attack. After a nearly three-hour wait for an ambulance to arrive, Charles Hall was finally able to leave the hospital.
The family of a great-grandfather they found lying in a pool of blood were left ‘shocked and upset’ after waiting two-and-half-hours for an ambulance before he died in hospital.
Charles Hall, 85 years old, was found dead in his home by Joanne and John on October 4.
Realizing that the ex-police officer was in serious trouble, the family shut the door and called the East Midlands Ambulance Service immediately.
Charles was widowed and the family had to wait for two-and-a half hours for the East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) to arrive at Charles’ home in Hinckley.
Father-of-two Charles died the following day at Leicester Royal Infirmary after kidney failure – which caused the fall – led to a heart attack.
Charles’s house was described by his family as a crime scene. He had probably fallen in his kitchen and tried accessing the telephone from his front door.
Charles was found by his daughter-in-law and son-in law in a pool full of his own blood in his Leicestershire house.
John, 56-year-old son-in-law, gave Charles first aid at scene. He said: “My wife called me at 5.30pm to inform me that her father was on the ground and that she couldn’t get in the door.
“My brother-in-law and sister-in law arrived, kicked down the doors, and there he lay, bloodied and covered in blood.
“We as a family are still trying to figure out what happened. It was total chaos. The kitchen table was shoved out of the way and there was only one slipper in one corner.
He was in a right old condition, bless him. It was not even dignified.
“We called the ambulance at the moment, and then they said they couldn’t come for two-and-a half hours.
Charles was taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary, where he died the next day after his kitchen fell.
“I’m a certified first aider so after waiting an hour, I was able to tend to him myself.
“I did all the necessary checks and made sure he could move both his fingers and his legs. I also helped to put him in the recovery position. He was very responsive and we had a good chat.
“But over the two and-a-half hour, I called the ambulance and said that he is having trouble breathing and in and off consciousness.
“When they arrived around 8pm, he said to us that this was a priority.
“Perhaps some advice to make my dad more comfortable might have been helpful, but nothing.
“He was a lovely man, a 40-year-old police officer, always building in the back yard – a right character.
“It is very upsetting for it to end this way.”
East Midlands Ambulance Service said Charles was a priority despite the lengthy wait
Richard Lyne was the divisional director at EMAS. He said that he would like to send his deepest condolences and support to Mr Hall’s family. We all understand that they have been through a difficult time.
‘Patient safety is always our first priority. I am sorry Mr Hall wasn’t provided with the level of service he expected.
‘At Mr Hall’s call, there was continued high-demand on EMAS as well as the wider NHS system. We were responding immediately to a number whose lives were reported to be in immediate danger.
“We are currently in contact Mr Hall’s family via our Patient Advice and Liaison Service and are investigating the cause of this delay.”
The family has now filed a complaint with East Midlands Ambulance Service. The investigation could take up 60 days.