My 93-year-old mother waited 10 hours on the floor for an ambulance

• Long ambulance response times remain a critical patient safety issue: Extended waits of 10+ hours for emergency transport expose vulnerable elderly patients to serious harm, including prolonged pain, pressure injury risk, and potential deterioration of acute conditions.
• Elderly patients on the floor face compounded injury risk: Prolonged immobilisation in dependent positions significantly increases morbidity in older adults, including pressure ulcers, deconditioning, and psychological distress.
• System capacity pressures may necessitate alternative clinical pathways: Clinicians should consider whether current triage protocols adequately account for vulnerable elderly patients and whether community-based alternatives or rapid assessment services could reduce harm during periods of ambulance service delays.

Graham Anthony says his mum Margaret Owen was asking for help "and sometimes screaming in pain".

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