Taxi Driver Online

A PENSIONER who turned away an ambulance because she was in bed was told to take a taxi the following morning by the emergency crew.

Margaret Stevens, 86, of Ferrymead Avenue in Greenford, was in Ealing Hospital for ten days from Tuesday, June 21, after suffering from a blood clot in her leg but she had to walk to A&E on her own after being dropped off outside the hospital by a taxi because the ambulance service refused to take her there.

Mrs Stevens said: "It was a bit awkward because I had to make my way from where the taxi dropped me off to A&E where I had to queue. "I was not in a very good temper."

Mrs Stevens felt a pain in her leg on Monday, June 20, and she saw a doctor that afternoon. The doctor told her she needed to go to hospital and called an ambulance for her but when it had not arrived by her bed time, she went to sleep.

The ambulance finally arrived at 11pm but as Mrs Stevens was in bed she asked the crew if they could come back in the morning. She said: "I was told I would have to find my own way there the next day because I refused the service."

A spokesman for the London Ambulance Service said: "We are now looking into the circumstances surrounding this incident as a matter of priority.

"Although it would be inappropriate to comment any further while this investigation is taking place, we are sorry for the unnecessary distress that was caused. "We would be happy to share the outcome of our investigation with the patient as soon as this has been concluded."

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