Vale MP Alun Cairns has welcomed the news that Llantwit Major resident Michael Beauchamp has received an apology from the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust after he waited 2 hours for an ambulance following a stroke.
The Gem reported in November that Michael Beauchamp from Llantwit Major suffered a stroke, and after calling 999 it took almost two hours for an ambulance to arrive with a separate paramedic arriving only two minutes earlier.
Mr Beauchamp’s partner Jacqueline Mcarthur met with Vale MP Alun Cairns to explain how she had used her skills and understanding of how to manage a stroke victim only to then wait a ‘horrendous’ two hours for an ambulance to arrive.
Mr Cairns wrote to Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust chief executive Tracy Myhill for a full explanation of the events, and has now received a letter of apology and a commitment to improving ambulance response times in the Vale of Glamorgan.
Mr Cairns said: “The case of Mr Beauchamp was extremely concerning, and quite rightly his partner Jaqueline was very concerned. I am grateful for the explanation received from the Ambulance Trust but I still hold concerns about whether the system in working for the residents in the Vale of Glamorgan. Above all I am relieved that Michael has recovered, but I don’t want to see this happen again in any community.”
Mr Beauchamp said “I spent two weeks in hospital, and I have returned to a stable condition on a new course of medication. I am grateful to the staff that helped me through this difficult period and to Alun Cairns for his support around the ambulance issue.”