Menu
11/08/2004
'Distressed' hip break pensioner receives surgery
An elderly woman who broke her hip and lay incapacitated on the floor of her home for three hours waiting for an ambulance has undergone surgery at the Ulster Hospital.
Portaferry pensioner Susie Smyth, 80, fell at her residential home at 11.15am on Sunday but was not collected by an ambulance until 2pm despite the best efforts of her doctor.
The on-call doctor telephoned for an ambulance but when it failed to arrive in sufficient time, Ms Smyth was forced to eat her lunch on the floor.
Her niece, Catherine Denvor, said the whole experience has been very distressing for her elderly aunt.
"Staff had to see if it was coming soon because at that stage she couldn't be moved from the floor," she said.
"She lay there and they made her as comfortable as they could."
A statement issued by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it regretted the inconvenience caused to Ms Smyth and her family.
"The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service regrets that this patient endured a lengthy wait for an ambulance due to the level of emergency activity in the area at the time," it said.
Despite her family being told that an emergency operation on her hip had been postponed indefinitely, the Ulster Hospital has confirmed that Ms Smith underwent surgery on Wednesday.
(MB)
Portaferry pensioner Susie Smyth, 80, fell at her residential home at 11.15am on Sunday but was not collected by an ambulance until 2pm despite the best efforts of her doctor.
The on-call doctor telephoned for an ambulance but when it failed to arrive in sufficient time, Ms Smyth was forced to eat her lunch on the floor.
Her niece, Catherine Denvor, said the whole experience has been very distressing for her elderly aunt.
"Staff had to see if it was coming soon because at that stage she couldn't be moved from the floor," she said.
"She lay there and they made her as comfortable as they could."
A statement issued by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it regretted the inconvenience caused to Ms Smyth and her family.
"The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service regrets that this patient endured a lengthy wait for an ambulance due to the level of emergency activity in the area at the time," it said.
Despite her family being told that an emergency operation on her hip had been postponed indefinitely, the Ulster Hospital has confirmed that Ms Smith underwent surgery on Wednesday.
(MB)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
19 July 2019
NI Ambulance Service Recruiting Helicopter Paramedics
Northern Ireland Ambulance Service is recruiting for new helicopter paramedics to be based at the Air Ambulance base at Maze Long Kesh in Lisburn and Emergency Ambulance Control at NIAS HQ in Belfast. Successful candidates will join the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) team which is made up of 15 doctors and seven paramedics.
NI Ambulance Service Recruiting Helicopter Paramedics
Northern Ireland Ambulance Service is recruiting for new helicopter paramedics to be based at the Air Ambulance base at Maze Long Kesh in Lisburn and Emergency Ambulance Control at NIAS HQ in Belfast. Successful candidates will join the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) team which is made up of 15 doctors and seven paramedics.
01 April 2008
Ambulance Crew Involved In M1 Crash
An ambulance crew has been involved in a crash in Belfast as they were attempting to resuscitate a young baby on the M1 motorway. The crew had been flagged down on Kennedy Way to help an infant who had stopped breathing, when a lorry collided with the ambulance at 11am today. The lorry was approaching the Broadway roundabout.
Ambulance Crew Involved In M1 Crash
An ambulance crew has been involved in a crash in Belfast as they were attempting to resuscitate a young baby on the M1 motorway. The crew had been flagged down on Kennedy Way to help an infant who had stopped breathing, when a lorry collided with the ambulance at 11am today. The lorry was approaching the Broadway roundabout.
24 April 2024
Green Party 'Raises Concerns' Over Lough Neagh Recovery Plan
Green Party Councillor for Lisnasharragh, Brian Smyth, has raised concerns over the language used by DAREA Minister, Andrew Muir in regards to delivering a comprehensive recovery plan for Lough Neagh.
Green Party 'Raises Concerns' Over Lough Neagh Recovery Plan
Green Party Councillor for Lisnasharragh, Brian Smyth, has raised concerns over the language used by DAREA Minister, Andrew Muir in regards to delivering a comprehensive recovery plan for Lough Neagh.
24 January 2024
Ards Arts Centre Announces New February Exhibitions
Ards Arts Centre has announced two new art exhibitions for February – Internal Space, a joint exhibition by Ned Jackson Smyth and Helen Bradbury, and Real Lives: The Art of Living with Dementia, a Community Exhibition by Dementia NI.
Ards Arts Centre Announces New February Exhibitions
Ards Arts Centre has announced two new art exhibitions for February – Internal Space, a joint exhibition by Ned Jackson Smyth and Helen Bradbury, and Real Lives: The Art of Living with Dementia, a Community Exhibition by Dementia NI.
19 January 2024
HUB-IN's Funding Brings Innovative Visitor Experiences To Belfast's Maritime Mile
HUB-IN has awarded £120,000 of funding to develop six prototypes that will bring innovative visitor experiences to Belfast's Maritime Mile.
HUB-IN's Funding Brings Innovative Visitor Experiences To Belfast's Maritime Mile
HUB-IN has awarded £120,000 of funding to develop six prototypes that will bring innovative visitor experiences to Belfast's Maritime Mile.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Showers will gradually die out during the evening. A cold night with long clear spells leading to a touch of frost in places. Light winds. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
