A teenager waited over nine hours for an ambulance and tragically passed away despite being classified as a priority case, according to an inquest.
On April 4, 2022, 16-year-old Jackson Yeow couldn’t make it to a scheduled GP appointment due to worsening gastritis symptoms. His mother called emergency services, but the ambulance only arrived after he lost consciousness, nearly nine and a half hours later.
He was rushed to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, where he was diagnosed with several severe conditions, including diabetic ketoacidosis, pancreatitis, cerebral edema, renal compromise, and severe acidosis. Despite medical efforts, his health deteriorated, and he succumbed to his condition five days later.
During the inquest, the ambulance service explained that delays in responding to calls were due to numerous crews being held up at hospitals awaiting patient handovers. Coroner David Regan, in a narrative conclusion, criticized the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and issued a report to prevent similar deaths in the future.
The report highlighted concerns about the normalization of care in non-clinical spaces, reducing emergency department capacity and posing safety risks. The Health Board has been given 56 days to respond to the report, with copies sent to various healthcare authorities.
In a separate incident in December, the Welsh Ambulance Service declared a critical situation due to surging demand and prolonged handover delays at hospitals. Stephen Sheldon, Head of Service, expressed regret over the impact on patient care and urged the public to only dial 999 for life-threatening emergencies to alleviate strain on ambulance services.
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