Man, 90, suffers as doctors 'busy'

HEALTH bosses have promised a review after doctors allegedly ignored a 90-year-old man who fell near a health centre.

The incident sparked an outcry on social media after the pensioner was left injured at the bus station close to the Integrated Care Centre in Oldham town centre on Tuesday morning.

Roy Radcliffe, from Oldham, posted a picture on his Facebook wall, which showed the elderly man had cut his head and was bleeding.

Mr Radcliffe claimed on Facebook that he ran inside the ICC, only to be told that all the doctors were busy.

He then said he saw two ambulance staff and was met with the same response.

He wrote: "This old man is 90-years-old and probably paid into this service all his life.

"I tried what I could and so did a lady and a First Bus employee.

"This is below degrading and shameful."

Policies

Mr Radcliffe's post was full of comments from people expressing their anger and disgust, as well as concerns for the gentleman.

A few, however, said that each centre has policies and people should ring 999 if things happen outside the walls of the main buildings.

Mr Radcliffe (53), from Chadderton, told the Chronicle he was having a cup of coffee and a cigarette outside the Costa Coffee, at the ICC, when he saw the elderly gentleman slip at the zebra crossing at the bus station. He immediately rushed over to the man's aid, as did a lady and an employee from First Bus ­- he was bleeding profusely from a cut above his right eye.

He went into the ICC and asked a lady at the reception if anybody could assist, who then told him to go to the emergency desk.

He also approached two ambulance drivers who told him they could not help as they were busy.

Mr Radcliffe said: "I was shocked.

"I was nearly crying for him. It was awful. There must have been nurses or people who know first aid. Surely someone could have come and helped? I was just upset because nothing was being done."

A phone call was made to the emergency services and the gentleman was taken to the hospital about 15 to 20 minutes later.

Mr Radcliffe has since spoken to him and he is now recovering at home with his family.

He added: "He said he's OK. He said thank-you to everyone for all your help. He said there are some lovely people out there."

Although Mr Radcliffe posted the news on Facebook he said he had not expected it to go viral and attract numerous comments.

Concern

"I told him it was on Facebook and said I do apologise," he said. "He said it was OK.

"But I did it because it was so near.

"It was just over the road, it's not like it happened in the town centre and someone from the centre would have had to run out. We have all got dads and grandads. I'm just glad he's OK.

"My only concern is that it doesn't happen again."

David Beckett, chief executive of GTD Healthcare, said: "As a service located within the Integrated Care Centre we were aware that an elderly man had an unfortunate accident at the bus station nearby.

"We are really sorry to hear of the gentleman's accident, hope that he is recovering following his fall and wish him a speedy recovery.

"We will be co-ordinating a full review of the incident along with other relevant colleagues and services based within the ICC.

"If the gentleman and/or his family would like to contact us, we would welcome their input to the review and the opportunity to share any findings with them.