A devastating NHS failure has been exposed after a terminally ill cancer patient died following a 12-hour ambulance wait in Greater Manchester, with her distraught daughter screaming 'Why are you letting her die?' during a desperate 999 call.
The heartbreaking incident occurred on December 30th, when 69-year-old Barbara Brierton, who was battling terminal lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, began experiencing severe breathing difficulties at her home in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Desperate Pleas for Help
Her daughter, Catherine Brierton, made the first of several frantic calls to North West Ambulance Service at 3:30 PM. Despite being told her mother's case was categorized as 'urgent,' no ambulance arrived for hours as Barbara's condition rapidly deteriorated.
'I was begging them to send someone,' Catherine recounted. 'I told them she was terminal, that she couldn't breathe properly. But hour after hour went by with nothing.'
'Why Are You Letting Her Die?'
In a final, harrowing call made around 3:00 AM, Catherine screamed down the phone: 'Why are you letting her die? My mum is dying and you're doing nothing.'
When paramedics finally arrived at 3:30 AM—exactly twelve hours after the initial call—Barbara had already passed away. Catherine discovered her mother's body after briefly stepping out of the room.
NWAS Response and Investigation
North West Ambulance Service has launched an investigation into the incident, acknowledging the 'unacceptable delay' and expressing their 'deepest condolences' to the family.
A spokesperson stated: 'We are deeply sorry for the delay in responding to this patient. At the time of the call, the service was experiencing significant pressures, but this does not excuse the length of time it took to reach her.'
The tragedy highlights the ongoing crisis in emergency healthcare services across the UK, with ambulance services consistently failing to meet response time targets for the most critical cases.
