AMBULANCE chiefs have apologised after a pensioner was left injured on the ground for more than an hour waiting for paramedics to arrive.

George Dodgson, 72, fell outside shops on The Parade in Holme Wood, Bradford, hurting his back, knees, and wrist.

Two police officers went to his aid and repeatedly called the ambulance service for medical help but it was more than an hour later before a first responder arrived to treat him.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust yesterday apologised to Mr Dodgson, saying the call for help came during a period of "very high demand".

Mr Dodgson, of Morrell Court, Holme Wood, said he was walking to catch a bus with his wife, Mabel, when he slipped and fell.

"I went down and jarred my back, but fortunately the two officers were just around the corner," he said.

"They wouldn't let me get back up, as they were worried about moving my back.

"They were absolutely brilliant, they wouldn't leave my side until help arrived."

Mrs Dodgson, 71, said the officers had wanted to take her husband to hospital themselves, but had been worried about moving him due to his injuries.

She said: "They put coats around him, and someone from the charity shop came out with some sheets and a small pillow," she said.

"They kept saying it was ridiculous we were waiting so long, but they didn't think it would have been classed as an emergency, even though it was to us at the time.

"They rang for the ambulance five times."

Her husband was examined at the scene and then taken to his home for treatment. After being unable to sleep that night due to pain in his wrist, he went to Bradford Royal Infirmary the following day for an x-ray, and was told he would need to wear a splint for up to six weeks.

"I didn't even realise I had damaged my wrist, as I was so cold I couldn't feel it," Mr Dodgson said.

"It was horrible on the ground, I was getting colder and colder.

"Luckily I'm a pretty stocky chap, but I was shaking with the cold and nearly in tears by the end.

"The paramedic said I was nearly at the point of hypothermia by the time he got me home.

"It was terrible, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone else.

"That's why we're complaining, as it's about time the Government realised these problems and sorted them out."

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman confirmed officers had attended the incident and called for an ambulance, subsequently staying with Mr Dodgson until the emergency responder arrived.

A spokesman for the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust said it had received the call about Mr Dodgson at 1.12pm and was on the scene by 2.18pm.

The spokesman added that his fall would not have been categorised as a "life-threatening" injury, 75 per cent of which are supposed to be attended to within eight minutes.

Paul Mudd, locality director for emergency operations in West Yorkshire, said: "We would like to apologise for the delay in responding to Mr Dodgson following his fall.

"The patient’s family have been in touch with the Trust, and we will liaise with them directly to discuss their concerns.

"The call came in during a period of very high demand and we were doing our best to respond as quickly as possible to all patients who needed our assistance.

“We would like to reassure members of the public that our main priority continues to be providing a safe, responsive and high quality service to the people of Yorkshire.”