An 88-year-old man died after waiting more than five hours to be admitted to hospital following a fall, with his family accusing the NHS of failing him.
John Codd, from St Austell, died at Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro on 16 January after suffering a fall the same day. It took two hours and 18 minutes for an ambulance to reach him, and he then waited over three hours in the back of the vehicle before being seen by accident and emergency staff.
Mike Norris, a family friend, said Mr Codd's injuries should not have been fatal. He stated: 'There are circumstances about Bill's death which are not very satisfactory at all - the slow response time, being kept in an ambulance outside and then arriving in A&E too late to do anything - for an injury which he should not really have died from. The NHS failed him.'
Mr Norris added that Mr Codd, a former Army serviceman and Ordnance Survey employee, deserved better care in his old age. The family hopes his death will serve as a marker to improve the system.
On Sunday, NHS Cornwall declared a 'critical incident' due to sustained pressure on services at its main hospital. The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, and South Western Ambulance Service issued a joint statement expressing condolences and confirming a review of Mr Codd's care, alongside a coroner's investigation.
