A NORTH East coroner is to write to Government officials after a great-grandmother was left waiting more than four hours for an ambulance after making a 999 call, an inquest heard.

Florence Taylor, 81, died in the early hours of December 18 last year at Sunderland Royal Hospital after being admitted the previous evening following a four-and-a-half-hour wait for an ambulance to her home.

Although the inquest in Sunderland ruled that the delay in the North East Ambulance Service taking Mrs Taylor to hospital had no impact on the tragic outcome, coroner Derek Winter said he would be writing to the Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt, to bring her case to his attention. Mr Winter said: “Confirming as I will that the delay had no impact on Mrs Taylor but expressing in the strongest of terms my anxiety that such delays for other patients may lead to fatalities.”

He added: “This matter in my view requires a very real outcome if things are going to change, particularly at times of high demand.”

The first 999 call for Mrs Taylor was made at 4.21pm on December 17 as the great-grandmother-of-one was experiencing abdominal pains which were radiating through to her back.

It was not until 8.53pm that an ambulance became available and Mrs Taylor arrived at Sunderland Royal Hospital at 9.36pm.

However, the inquest heard a report found there were two missed opportunities when an ambulance was available to attend to Mrs Taylor but did not, at 7.01pm and 8.30pm.

At hospital an ultrasound and CT scan uncovered that Mrs Taylor had a large aortic aneurysm, but there were no signs it was leaking or had ruptured, so doctors chose to monitor her regularly, as a rupture would mean she needed immediate surgery.

But after 4am on December 18, Mrs Taylor suffered a cardiac arrest, and she died following a rupture.

The inquest heard evidence from members of staff at Sunderland Royal Hospital who had dealt with Mrs Taylor, as well as evidence from members of the North East Ambulance Service, who reported that both services were experiencing high levels of calls and admissions leading to the delay.

The ambulance service had been prioritising calls, and Mrs Taylor had not been in the highest priority group.

Douglas McDougall, operations manager for the Durham and South Tyneside areas for the North East Ambulance Service, told the inquest reviews were taking place, nationally and locally, to deal with times of high demand.

Mr Winter said: “I have to say that the delay, although excessive, made no difference to the eventual outcome for Mrs Taylor.”

He added that it would not have altered the treatment she received had she arrived at the hospital at an earlier stage. He recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.

Following his ruling he added that the delay had no “demonstrable effect” on Mrs Taylor.

Mrs Taylor’s three children, Raymond, Keith and Christine, all attended the inquest and, speaking afterwards, said they were glad the coroner would be writing to Jeremy Hunt.

Raymond, 58, said: “The coroner’s office has been great and we are pleased they will be writing to the Secretary of State.”

Paying tribute to his mother, he added: “She was very independent, she got out a lot even though she was 81.

“It did not stop her doing anything and she had a great social life.”

A spokesman for the North East Ambulance Service offered their condolences to the family.