Man collapses right outside hospital but is told to call for an ambulance

A man having a diabetic fit had to wait 15 minutes for an ambulance to take him to hospital - even though he collapsed right outside the building.

Reginald Kast, 34, who rushed to the man's aid after he fell in a heap outside Crawley Hospital's urgent treatment centre was shocked when medics told him to call 999.

Initially the good samaritan was relieved that the man, who has not been named, was so close to medical attention. 'I rushed over to him and tried to help him, but because we were right outside the hospital I thought "that's the best place this could have happened".'



A female passer-by who dashed into the hospital to tell staff about the sick man, aged in his 30s, was stunned when they told her to call for an ambulance.

Mr Kast said: 'When the woman came out of the hospital she was just in disbelief that she had been told to go and call an ambulance.' After calling 999, Mr Kast had to wait 15 minutes before the ambulance arrived.

A spokeswoman for West Sussex Primary Care Trust said they were aware of the incident. 'If a patient is in need of emergency treatment outside the urgent treatment centre a number of procedures are in place to ensure that person gets the medical attention they need.'