AN INVESTIGATION is under way into why an elderly woman was left lying in a road for more than an hour for an ambulance to arrive, after she was hit by a car.
The victim fell as she was crossing Upper Brook Street in Winchester and was subsequently struck by a car.
Although she was helped by the car driver and police officers, onlookers spoke of their shock at the length of time it took for an ambulance to arrive.
Paramedics did reach the scene an hour after they were called on Monday afternoon, but it was another 30 minutes before an ambulance arrived to take the patient to hospital, during which time she remained in the road.
South Central Ambulance NHS Trust confirmed an investigation was under way into why there was such a delay and that they would contact the woman to apologise.
The incident comes after the Daily Echo reported how the service is currently on severe alert – one level down from the highest alert – following a rise in the number of calls.
The under-pressure service has cancelled training and mobilised all ‘back office’ staff to the front line to help respond to the rise in reported incidents blamed on the run-up to Christ-mas and recent cold weather.
They are urging the public only to call if in a life threatening situation.