AN 85-YEAR-OLD woman who had to endure an 18 hour wait before being treated at Llandough Hospital has received an apology from the Cardiff and Vale Health Board.

Penarth woman Audrey Jones was reportedly left in the back of an ambulance for six hours after being taken to the University Hospital Llandough. When she was eventually taken inside, she was forced to wait for an additional 12 hours while in discomfort and pain, her family have said.

Welsh ambulance Service head of operations at Cardiff and Vale Health Board Bob Toomey has apologised for the incident saying: "At the time of this call there was a high volume of emergency patients to which our crews were already committed, however we fully appreciate that it must have been an anxious wait on this occasion and for that we sincerely apologise."

Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, and regional AM for South Wales Central, Andrew RT Davies called the situation "unacceptable" saying that no [patient should be forced to endure a wait that long.

Mr Tooby encouraged the family of Ms Jones to get in touch.

He added: “We were really sorry to hear about the delay in transporting Mrs Jones to hospital and would like to send her our thoughts and very best wishes.

“If the patient – or a relative or representative – would like to discuss what happened in more detail, then we would encourage them to contact us directly when they feel ready and able to do so.”

Christine Atkinson is the head of operations and delivery for the medicine clinical board at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.

She said the health board was unable to comment on individual cases due to confidentiality, but she added: “We are sorry to hear the family are unhappy with their care and would urge them to contact our concerns team so we can find out more.

“The Medical Emergency Assessment Unit, like many across the UK, has been very busy in the last fourteen days due to the colder weather. However, all patients are assessed quickly and treated appropriately.

“In some instances it is better for a patient to undergo observation rather than be admitted to hospital so they can receive the right treatment and be helped to return home as soon as possible.

"When this is the case we do all we can to make sure they are comfortable and have the appropriate care and apologise to anyone who has suffered delays or distress."

Mr R T Davies called on ministers to bring forward a plan to ensure such treatment is not witnessed again.

“This is a harrowing tale which highlights two major problems," he said. "Firstly the unacceptable six-hour wait Mrs Jones had to suffer for an ambulance to transport her to hospital and secondly the appalling 12 hour wait on a treatment table at the hospital waiting to be seen.

“Waiting times in Wales are now the worst since records began and unfortunately thousands of Welsh patients are suffering indignity after a Welsh Labour Government decided to make the disastrous decision to cut a billion pounds from the NHS budget during this Assembly term.

“Our hardworking frontline staff are being hit the most by Labour’s record-breaking NHS budget cuts and the enormous strain this has placed on our finest public service.

"Patients deserve better."

"When this is the case we do all we can to make sure they are comfortable and have the appropriate care and apologise to anyone who has suffered delays or distress.