A MOTHER-of-five from Milford Haven has said she will think twice before calling an ambulance, after she and her young daughter were stuck in Carmarthen following a late night trip to Glangwili.

When Becky Stewart’s 16-month-old daughter Annie-Lou suffered a severe nosebleed at around midnight, she phoned for help, and was told to call an ambulance.

It arrived three hours later, and worried Becky and her daughter were taken Glangwili hospital, where they spent the next two hours, before being discharged into the pouring rain.

After having to pay £15 for a taxi to the train station, Becky and her baby were forced to wait outside until around 7.45am when the next train home arrived.

“I had nothing for her, no socks, no dummy, no buggy, just a coat,” said Becky.

“I wasn’t offered a drink for her, and there were no machines for me to get something for her, the shop at the station was shut.

“I’m lucky she’s a good baby, but it could have been worse.”

After her experience, Becky says she is now reluctant to call for help out-of-hours, in case she is told she has to go to Glangwili.

“I’m still angry about it now, I’m not happy about it at all, I think it’s absolutely disgusting,” she said.

Unaware of recent cuts to overnight paediatric care at Withybush, Becky said she had no idea she would be going to Carmarthen.

“I didn’t think Glangwili, I thought it would just be a check-up in Withybush,” she said.

“They put me in a situation where I couldn’t refuse because it’s my baby.

“I felt if I didn’t go straight away, I would be to blame.”

The incident was raised last Thursday (October 8) at a public meeting of the health board’s Community Health Council (CHC) – an independent board of volunteers which aims to provide a voice for patients, and scrutinise services in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion.

The CHC also heard about a pregnant 16-year-old who spent several hours at the train station in the early hours of the morning after being taken to Glangwili by ambulance.

This was despite previously being told to attend an out-of-hours appointment at Withybush.

CHC member and Ceredigion councillor Paul Hinge said it was ‘just not on’.

“It shouldn’t be happening,” he said. “They’ve got a budget to deal with it.”

Mr Hinge said he understood that if someone was in receipt of benefits, the health board was obligated to take them home in a taxi.

Sue Lewis, the health board’s county director, apologised, adding: “It absolutely shouldn’t happen.”

She agreed that alternative accommodation should be looked at, so that people had somewhere safe and dry to wait.

Speaking on behalf of the health board, Joe Teape, executive director of operations and deputy chief executive, expressed regret over what had happened.

He said that when people were taken to hospital by ambulance, they were assessed and either given treatment, admitted to hospital, or sent home if safe to do so.

“We expect our staff to be compassionate and helpful when people have difficulty getting home, and they often signpost to non-emergency patient transport, which can provide assistance,” he said.

“In situations where this is unavailable but further support is required, they will ensure transport onwards to the nearest public transport provider.

“We continue to review non-emergency patient transport and have put a number of innovative schemes into place."

According to the NHS Travel Scheme, people on low incomes or claiming certain benefits may be eligible to have transport costs reimbursed in full or in part.

This will usually be “the cheapest reasonable method of travel, which in most cases will be public transport” and payments for taxis will only be made if agreed in advance.

In order to claim, patients will need to provide a hospital appointment card or letter, original copies of any travel receipts and proof that they are on a qualifying benefit or proof of eligibility.

To claim for a child’s appointment, parents will need to show the award letter that includes the child’s name.