A DAD is suing health chiefs for £100,000 after claiming he was told to
walk 23 miles home from A&E at 2am.
An ambulance took Peter Rees, 65, from his house to hospital with a coughing
fit and shortness of breath.
Medics gave him antibiotics for a chest infection and discharged him early on
New Year’s Day.
But a court heard when he asked for transport as he forgot his wallet and had
no one to collect him, he was called aggressive and ordered to leave.
The ex-florist said: “I was very tired, but I didn’t raise my voice or swear.
“I was not aggressive, but they said I had to leave.
“There were ambulancemen there who saw my predicament but said they were not
allowed to drive patients home.
“Even if I had money I would not have been able to get a taxi at that time on
New Year’s Eve.”
He walked 12 miles before cops saw him and took him home at 6.30am.
Peter, a father-of-three from Llanwrda, West Wales, called his ordeal “the
most horrible night of my life”.
He added: “I had dark clothing on, I was feeling most unwell and I had to walk
on unlit roads on one of the most dangerous nights of the year.
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“Hospitals are supposed to be caring places but the nurse sent me packing
knowing my only way home was to walk.”
He alleges neglect and failure of care at Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen, in
2013.
Christian Howells, lawyer for Hywel Dda Health Board, said it did not have to
give fit patients taxis.
He added: “He could have taken a taxi and paid at home.”
The health board has called for the action to be thrown out, but deputy
district judge Rosamund Cleal told the court she was “not persuaded” that
should happen.
She adjourned the Carmarthen county court case to a date to be fixed.