Lost ambulance led to death, say family

Nora Jaques, 69, died at the home she shared with her son in Staincross, near Barnsley, after the ambulance allegedly got lost and drove through three neighbouring villages – taking 42 minutes to find her.

Her relatives have claimed that she died just minutes before the ambulance arrived.

Son Martin Benson, 49, said: "If they had got here sooner she would still be alive. To cap it all, the emergency operator told my sister as my mother was still conscious and breathing they did not class it as an emergency. It is disgusting."

The family is now considering taking legal action against Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

Mrs Jaques, who leaves six daughters, four sons and 17 grandchildren, was found collapsed by her son, Leonard Jaques, last Monday at 11.20pm.

The grandmother, who had a history of blood disorders, had visited a doctor the previous week with pains in her legs.

When Mr Jaques found her collapsed, he dialled 999 and got one of his sisters to speak to the operator while he waited for the ambulance.

The family have claimed that the operator told them the lost ambulance crew drove through Barugh Green, Kexborough and Darton.

A spokesman for Yorkshire Ambulance Service said: "The trust would like to offer its condolences to the family of Nora Jaques at this sad time.

"We are keen to speak to the patient's family about their concerns and ask that they contact us directly to discuss the matter further."

He confirmed ambulance target response times are eight minutes for life threatening calls, 19 minutes for serious but not life threatening emergencies and from an immediate response to about an hour for emergency treatment.