Bradford pensioner lay in soaking rain for hours awaiting ambulance

Barbara Cseh broke her hip in two places following a fall on Broadstone Way, Holme Wood, this past weekend.

Anthony Cseh claims the ambulance service were rung four times and that ambulance crews only arrived after the intervention of a passing police officer. 

He claimed that, once officers heard what had happened and themselves made a call, paramedics arrived to attend to Barbara within minutes.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) says it is "looking into the case" and will provide feedback to the family in due course.

YAS added that it was "very sorry" to hear about the family's concerns along with wishing Barbara well in her recovery.

Anthony Cseh phoned the ambulance service multiple times (Image: Newsquest) "My mum is shocked. She has gone through extreme pain," Anthony told the Telegraph & Argus.

"She was very disappointed that the ambulance took so long.

"It is not acceptable in this day and age when a pensioner is put on the priority list."

He added: "I was upset and angry about the ambulance not turning up for two hours."

Barbara fell when exiting a taxi outside Anthony's house on the morning of Saturday, June 15.

Anthony, who is a qualified first aid trainer, was inside his home helping his father through the door at the time.

He said: "I got my dad sat down in the house and a passer-by was helping my mum.

"I went out to see my mum and I knew straight away she had broken her hip.

"The gentleman, who assisted my mum, rang 999 first. They told him the ambulance would arrive, even though she was on the priority list, in two/two and a half hours.

"My mum was going paler and in extreme pain. My mum is like an old battle horse, she does not moan about anything.

"I phoned 999 and they said the same thing, bare minimum two/two and a half hours."

The pavement where the fall happened (Image: Newsquest) At this point, the rain was coming down heavy - leading to the community rallying around to support the pensioner. 

Residents provided Barbara with umbrellas and blankets in an attempt to comfort her.

Anthony added: "By then my neighbours had brought three umbrellas over and we had put blankets over her to try keep her warm.

"The community effort was great.

"They stopped to offer their assistance and even free trips to the hospital.

"I say to them thank you. I knew we could not move her."

An hour passed and still no ambulance arrived.

"I phoned the ambulance service again," Anthony, who described his mum as a "one of a kind", said.

"It is unacceptable when an 84-year-old woman has definitely broken her hip and is just getting worse.

"(I said) if you are not careful, we are going to be talking about a death.

"They said the ambulance is going to arrive in the next 40 minutes/an hour."

He added: "Luckily a police car was driving by. I gave them all the details and they questioned how long we had been waiting.

"They phoned the ambulance people and within five minutes the first responder arrived. Five minutes later, the ambulance arrived."

Anthony was angry about the ambulance service not turning up for two hours (Image: Newsquest) Barbara was transferred to the Bradford Royal Infirmary's high dependence unit.

The hospital confirmed the break in two places and on Sunday the 84-year-old underwent surgery. 

As of Wednesday, Barbara remains in the BRI as she continues her recovery from the operation.

Anthony says his mum is still in agony and it has been a slow recovery process.

A spokesperson for Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust said: “We are very sorry to hear about the concerns raised by Barbara Cseh’s family in relation to the ambulance response to her following a fall on Saturday lunchtime (June 15).

"Our Patient Relations Team has spoken to Barbara’s son, and they are now looking into this case and will provide feedback directly to the family in due course.

“We understand that Barbara is recovering from surgery and we would like to wish her well.”