Last night just after 6pm, firefighters in Portsmouth, Hampshire, responded to a blaze on the 15th floor of Edgebaston House, a high-rise tower block. The fire originated in a kitchen, resulting in a 50-year-old man suffering from smoke inhalation.
Despite urgent calls for medical assistance, the South Central Ambulance Service did not provide an ambulance for over an hour. Due to the delay, fire crews at the scene administered oxygen therapy to the affected man.
“The officer in charge gave up waiting and decided to transport the casualty to QA Hospital using the fire engine,” a source revealed. This decision was made to ensure the patient received urgent medical care without further delay.
The incident highlights ongoing ambulance response delays at Queen Alexandra Hospital. Firefighters had to step into a paramedic role, driving the patient themselves to the hospital to secure timely treatment.
Key details of the incident include:
- Fire broke out in a kitchen on the 15th floor of Edgebaston House.
- A 50-year-old man suffered from smoke inhalation.
- Ambulance service took over an hour to respond.
- Firefighters administered oxygen and transported the victim.
- The patient was taken directly to Queen Alexandra Hospital by fire engine.
This event underscores the mounting challenges faced by emergency services in the region. When every minute counts, delays in ambulance response can have serious consequences for patient outcomes.
Originally published by UKNIP.
