- Bryan Bartlett slipped while getting out of the bathtub at the Premier Inn Weymouth
A grandfather who slipped and broke his neck in a Premier Inn bathroom was forced to wait almost 10 hours for an ambulance to arrive.
Bryan Bartlett, 74, had to endure “excruciating pain” after slipping while getting out of the bathtub he was in to shower.
His wife Doreen, 80, had reception staff call 999 immediately, but the call operator said there were no ambulances available.
An ambulance finally arrived at the Premier Inn in Weymouth, Dorset, at 4am, almost 10 hours after the fall, which occurred at around 6pm.
Bartlett’s son Daniel said his father, from Southampton, Hampshire, was in Weymouth visiting friends and “flew” out of the bath as he went to get out.
Bryan Bartlett, 74, endured “excruciating pain” after slipping while getting out of the bathtub he was in to take a shower.
His wife Doreen (pictured together), 80, had reception staff call 999 immediately, but the call operator said there were no ambulances available.
Daniel, 42, said: ‘The pain I was feeling was unbearable.
‘Mom was helping him, but since she is disabled, dad was trying with all his might to get out of the bathroom.
“He was saying he felt like his head was going to fall off, so he was holding it up.”
After being told there were no ambulances, Bartlett was forced to wait. At around 3am Mrs Bartlett called a second time and the ambulance arrived at around 4am.
Bartlett was taken to Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester, where scans confirmed he had broken his neck. He was told that he would need a neck brace for six months.
Daniel, who lives in Ferndown, Dorset, rushed to hospital to be with his mother, who suffers from angina (severe pain in the chest that can spread to the arms and back) and relies on her husband to care for her.
He said: “The doctor said it could have been fatal and he was a very lucky man.” He could have been paralyzed or even died.
There was no bath mat on the bathroom floor, the family claimed.
A Premier Inn spokesperson said: ‘All of our hotel bathrooms have a non-slip coating, as well as a visible non-slip area at the end of the shower to minimize the chances of slipping.
An ambulance finally arrived at the Premier Inn in Weymouth, Dorset, at 4am, almost 10 hours after the fall, which occurred at around 6pm (file image).
‘We also make bath mats available upon request should guests wish to have one during their stay, which can be requested from reception upon arrival or at any time of the day or night.
“Our team worked with the guest after they became aware of the incident and we all wish him a speedy recovery and the best.”
A spokesperson for South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) said: “We regret that we were not able to provide Mr Bartlett with a timely response and would like to wish him the best in his recovery.”
‘Our ambulance doctors strive every day to give their best to patients, but during the period of warm weather at the beginning of September, we saw demand for our service increase to levels we have not experienced since the beginning of September. 2023.
‘Our NHS and social care partners also saw an increase in demand during this time. We are all working hard to improve the service patients receive.’
