NHS apology for Shropshire ambulance delays
Ambulance service bosses in Shropshire were today forced to apologise for a series of missed appointments and late arrivals.
Medical Services Ltd took over the contract for providing non-emergency health transport on November 1.
But it has been beset with teething troubles which have upset patients and health workers.
Cancer patient Desmond Lewis, 76, almost missed his chemotherapy session after his ambulance appointment was lost.
His daughter Cheryl, 43, who is disabled, says they have also been left waiting for up to two-and-a-half hours both at her home in Grinshill Drive, Shrewsbury, and at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.
Ms Lewis said: "On two separate occasions nurses at the hospital have been to the main entrance to see what was happening and were shocked to see a number of ambulance vehicles just parked outside."
Medical Services Ltd was given the ambulance contract by Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Groups. Its regional manager Ray Owen said: "We are sorry that some of our service users have not received the usual high standard of service that we aspire to, and usually deliver.
"Where things have gone wrong we are doing all that we can to make sure that things are put right as quickly as possible."
He said there had been "an unprecedented number of calls" and extra call handlers had been brought in.
"Staff that transferred to Medical Services from the previous provider have been on a very steep learning curve over the past week," he said. "They are now becoming more familiar with the new control and operating processes that are in place."
Dr Caron Morton, accountable officer at the Shropshire CCG said: "We are very sorry that some people have been experiencing problems with their patient transport services recently.
"I am now personally involved with the service, as I know how important it is to people right across the county."
