Ambulance officials are to launch an investigation into why a crew called to an emergency in Whiteley took more than 25 minutes to get there after failing to open a bus gate bollard.
Harry in hospital after his allergic reaction
The ambulance crew, which was despatched from Southampton, followed their satellite navigation system instructions to Yew Tree Drive, even though access to Whiteley along that route is blocked by a bus gate bollard.
Local emergency vehicles should have a transponder to open the bus gate. South Central Ambulance Service was provided with 60 transponders to ensure all their vehicles would be able to use Yew Tree Drive in an emergency.
They were also issued with an emergency phone number to have the bollard lowered if the transponder did not work.
But the ambulance despatched to Suffolk Drive on Saturday night did not have a transponder or the emergency phone number.
Kerry Rudge dialled 999 at 8.37pm on Saturday when her son Harry had an allergic reaction. His face was swollen and a rash appeared over his body.
The bus and emergency vehicle route between Yew Tree Drive and Botley Road with the bollards in place
South Central Ambulance Service confirmed the vehicle did not reach the child until 9.04pm because the crew did not have a transponder.
Kerry said her son was fine in the end, but she said the delay in the paramedics getting to him was not acceptable.
“That delay could prove fatal in somebody else’s situation,” she said. “Fortunately Harry was ok but if that was someone having a heart attack those minutes are crucial.
“Regardless of any other reason, the bollards should be lowered for people’s health and safety. I want to see a permanent solution not a temporary one.
“I can’t fault the paramedics – they were great. The ambulance service has raised the issue about the bollards before. It is unacceptable that emergency services can’t get through.”
Hampshire County Council is currently running a survey among residents and businesses in Whiteley, Swanwick, Burridge and Park Gate to see whether there is support for a trial opening of Yew Tree Drive to all traffic.
A SCAS spokesperson said: “Although local crews have one of the transponders for the bollards the fact that this happened at 8.45 at night and involved an ambulance that was not local but was the nearest available meant this ambulance did not have a key. We then had to re-route it to get to the emergency.
“It did result in a slight delay but no harm at all was caused to the patient.”
Fareham Council leader Sean Woodward has written to South Central Ambulance Service asking for an investigation and explanation of what went wrong.
He said: “We cannot risk the emergency services not having the right procedures in place which they had previously agreed with the council.
“They asked for 60 transponders for their vehicles and they were given them.
“If they haven’t got the right procedures in place they cannot get access. We have had the bollards lowered until the ambulance service can assure me they have the correct procedures in place.”
The SCAS spokesperson said: “If we’re called to investigate it we will go through normal procedures and we will investigate it. At this stage it would be inappropriate to comment if it is subject to an investigation.”