Stroke man's 999 delay due to insufficient resources
An ambulance service has admitted it did not have enough resources to respond to 999 calls on the day a great grandfather suffered a severe stroke.
Ron Gibson had a stroke at his home in Withington, Manchester, on 9 December.
He waited for 76 minutes for an ambulance, despite a paramedic pleading for one to be sent. He died two days later, after a bleed on the brain.
North West Ambulance Service said at an inquest it understood the family's view the delay was unacceptable.
Bolton Coroner's Court heard that Mr Gibson, who had 22 grandchildren and five great grandchildren, was found collapsed at his home by his daughters at 1724 GMT on 9 December.
They dialled 999 and a fast-response paramedic arrived 16 minutes later - which was double the target time.
He told the hearing there had been horrendous traffic on the day.
He assessed Mr Gibson, 78, and asked for an ambulance immediately.
By coincidence, he had known Mr Gibson for 20 years, and when it was clear an ambulance was not on its way he called a manager to request one, the inquest heard.
It eventually arrived at 1840 GMT.
Snow and ice in December last year had placed extra demands on the ambulance service, the hearing heard.
It saw an increase in the number of emergency calls - despite issuing pleas to only call 999 in a genuine emergency - as well as a rise in the number of accidents, and dangerous road conditions.
The service admitted it had insufficient resources to deal with the extra demands.
The hearing continues.