In a tragic story of delayed medical care, a mother-of-two has been left permanently disabled after suffering a stroke, with her partner blaming the nearly two-hour wait for an ambulance.
Susan Harding, 57, suffered a haemorrhagic stroke at home in December, resulting in a bleed on the brain and a permanent loss of mobility on the left side of her body.
The delay in getting medical help has devastated her family, with her partner, Rob Christensen, accusing the emergency response of contributing to the worsening of her condition.
The Wait for Help
Susan Harding’s ordeal began on December 12, 2024, when she was struck by a stroke while at home.
After having a normal day, she collapsed while in the bathroom, and her partner Rob noticed signs of a stroke—her face drooped, and her speech became slurred.
Rob immediately called 999, but what followed was a nightmarish wait.
Despite describing the severity of the situation and informing the dispatcher that Susan was having a stroke, the ambulance didn’t arrive until almost two hours later, far beyond the NHS’s target response time of 18 minutes for category two emergencies like strokes.
A Frustrating Series of Calls
Rob Christensen was left shocked and frustrated by the repeated delays and lack of urgency from the emergency services.
When he called back for updates, each time he had to repeat the same details, only to be told there were further delays. “I was gobsmacked by the indifference,” he said.
By the time the ambulance arrived, Susan’s condition had worsened significantly, leaving Rob feeling helpless and angry at the failure of the system.
“We’re supposed to act fast, and we got nothing from the emergency services. It changed our lives,” he explained.
The Impact of the Delay
The extended wait ultimately led to further brain damage, which could have been avoided with a quicker response.
Susan was taken to the hospital and initially put into an induced coma.
Doctors informed Rob that his partner would likely never regain the use of her left side and would require care for the rest of her life.
The prolonged delay before treatment, according to Rob, led to more bleeding and increased pressure on Susan’s brain, making her condition even worse.
A Campaign for Change
Determined to prevent other families from experiencing the same tragedy, Rob has started a campaign for a more transparent and efficient emergency response system.
He is advocating for real-time reporting of ambulance response times, improvements to the call-handling and triage systems, and a clear action plan for ensuring faster responses in the future.
His petition, calling for an investigation into Susan’s case and changes to the emergency system, has garnered over 48,000 signatures.
The Ongoing Struggle
Since her stroke, Susan has undergone multiple surgeries and has been in hospital for several months, with no guarantee of full recovery. Despite her ongoing rehabilitation, Rob’s life has changed forever.
He now faces the challenge of caring for Susan, who is unable to remember recent events and struggles with basic tasks.
“I’m going to be caring for someone who isn’t there,” he said, expressing the heartbreaking nature of her cognitive and physical limitations.
Government Response and Accountability
Rob has written to his local MP seeking answers, but the response from the South Western Ambulance Service has been less than satisfactory.
The service acknowledged the delay and apologized, attributing it to pressure on the NHS and high demand at the time. However, Rob remains unconvinced by these explanations.
“If it’s important to act fast, then why wasn’t the ambulance there within 18 minutes?” he said, pointing to the disconnect between the emergency services’ promises and the reality of the situation.
Looking Ahead
As Susan continues her rehabilitation journey, Rob remains focused on seeking justice for his partner and holding the emergency services accountable.
His campaign and petition are part of a broader call for reform, hoping that future emergencies will not be met with the same devastating delays.
The emotional toll of Susan’s stroke and the wait for care has left a lasting mark on the family, but they are determined to push for change in the hope that no one else has to endure a similar tragedy.