A PENSIONER who pleaded for an ambulance to be sent after he fell at home and could not move was given the lowest priority, an inquest heard.

Almost three hours after he called 999, 71-year-old James Wash was found dead by volunteer First Responders who were the first to arrive.

The hearing in Ruthin was told that an independent audit had confirmed that all the correct protocols were followed in assessing the case but Gill Pleming, utilities manager for the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust (WAST) commented: “It is not the level of service we would want to provide.”

Mr Wash’s son Stephen told the inquest that his father, a retired social worker, of Trewen, Denbigh, had become increasingly unsteady on his feet and was drinking more heavily. As a result he had fallen a couple of times before the incident on January 19.

At about 10.30pm he dialled 999 and a transcript of his call to the ambulance call handler was read out at the inquest by Elizabeth Dudley-Jones, assistant coroner for North Wales East and Central.

Mr Wash told the handler: “I have fallen over and I can’t move and can’t walk...please come, I am very poorly.”

He answered a series of questions about himself and how he had fallen.

Miss Pleming said there was a strict protocol for handling such calls so that they could be categorized and Mr Wash’s case was classified as “Green 3”, which meant it was not considered immediately serious or life-threatening.

It was referred to clinician for follow-up but when the clinician failed to get Mr Wash back on the phone about an hour later it was referred back for an ambulance to be dispatched.

Two First Responders who arrived at 1.15am could see Mr Wash lying in the hallway. The police were called and when they broke in paramedic Mark Timmins certified he was dead. He had suffered a serious head wound and lost a lot of blood.

Pathologist Dr Mark Atkinson said Mr Wash had 80 per cent blockage of the cardiac artery and could have died at any time, though the shock and loss of blood could have contributed to his death.

Miss Pleming said the audit panel which studied the case, including the details given by Mr Wash to the call handler, was satisfied that the protocol had been correctly followed based on the information given.

“It is an international protocol based on the best research,” she said.

She went to explain that other issues, including ambulances having to queue outside hospitals, had also had an impact on the response time.

“It was not only Mr Wash that was waiting for an ambulance,” she said.

Stephen Wash said he felt that factors such as his father saying he was unable to move and the fact he did not answer his phone could have triggered a more urgent response.

But he added: “I don’t think in Dad’s case it would have made any difference if there had been an ambulance available but it may to someone else.”

Ms Dudley-Jones recorded a conclusion of death from natural causes.