A SOMERSET MP has criticised the ‘atrocious’ ambulance service after a badly injured woman had to wait more than two hours for help.

Ian Liddell-Grainger, MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset, said there have been many similar incidents in West Somerset.

But South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) said they are experiencing an ‘extremely busy period’.

The 65-year-old holidaymaker was walking in the woods near Culvercliff when she fell and landed heavily on her face and badly injured her shoulder.

Other walkers ran to her assistance and called for an ambulance.

They were told by ambulance control not to move her.

After an hour and a half the woman’s condition worsened and someone managed to contact an RNLI official.

And so he went to the scene and assessed her injuries, and managed to get her to sit up.

He then called for a coastguard rescue team and put in another call to ambulance stressing the seriousness of her injuries.

The ambulance was called for at 1.05pm and they arrived at the scene at 3.19pm - more than two hours after the fall.

Mr Liddell-Grainger said those who had stopped to help were appalled by the delay.

“They live in parts of the country where if you call for an ambulance one is generally with you within 10 to 15 minutes,” he said.

“They had no first aid training so simply did what they were instructed – left the casualty where she was.

“But this unfortunate woman was then stuck with her face into the ground and her head facing down a steep slope until someone who knew what to do arrived on scene.

“This is by no means the first such incident: my mailbox is filled with others – and every time a complaint is made the ambulance service comes up with the same, lame excuse: they are busy.

“I would argue that if that is the case then clearly additional resources are needed. It is an atrocious situation when a casualty in a place like Minehead has to wait so long for help to arrive.”

A spokesperson for SWASFT said they are ‘doing all they can’ to manage the ‘very high demand’ on the ambulance service.

“We are sorry we were unable to reach this patient sooner,” the spokesperson added.

“We are experiencing an extremely busy period, having seen a significant increase in demand following the easing of lockdown restrictions.

“We are doing all we can to manage the very high demand on our service and the finite supply of resources we have. This means we must prioritise critically ill patients, such as those who are not breathing, unconscious, or bleeding heavily.

“We urge everyone to choose well and only call 999 in a life-threatening emergency. People should not call us back to ask for an estimated arrival time. They should only call back if the patient’s condition worsens, or they no longer need our help.”