Great-grandfather, 85, had to wait two-and-a-half hours for an ambulance

A great grandfather was left lying in a pool of his own blood for two-and-a-half hours while waiting for an ambulance, his family have claimed.

The family of Charles Hall, 85, said they were "shocked and upset" after the incident, which happened a day before he then died in hospital, and have now lodged a complaint.

Hall, was found lying in a pool of blood by daughter Joanne and husband John after a suspected fall at his home on 4 October.

After kicking down the door to get to him, they called an ambulance but said they had to wait for two-and-a-half hours for an East Midlands Ambulance Service to arrive at the address in Hinckley, Leicestershire, as they desperately tried to give him first aid.

The 85-year-old was taken to hospital but died the following day. The cause of death was given as kidney failure due to a fall, which eventually lead to a cardiac arrest.

The family, who described the scene when they found the widow as 'like a crime scene', think he had a fall in his kitchen and was trying to reach the phone near his front door.

Son-in-law, John, 56, who is first aid trained and tended to his father-in-law as he drifted in and out of consciousness, said: "My wife rang me at around 5.30pm to tell me that her dad was on the floor, and that she couldn't get in the door.

"My brother and sister-in-law arrived and kicked down the door - and there he was, on the floor covered in blood."

"We, as a family, are still trying to piece together exactly what happened. It was utter carnage - the kitchen table had been shoved out the way, one slipper in one corner of the room.

"We think he may have had a fall in the kitchen and tried to make it to the telephone stand and couldn't. That's where we found him.

"He was in a right old state, bless him. It wasn't dignified at all."

He said when they rang for an ambulance they were told nobody could come for two-and-a-half hours, leaving him to administer first aid.

"I did all the usual checks and made sure he could move his fingers and legs, I helped put him in the recovery position - very responsive, we had a chat.

"But over the two-and-a-half hours, I rang the ambulance and said he is having a trouble breathing and in and out of consciousness.

"They still said then, the ambulance will be another hour. I was thinking they cannot do this.

"When they arrived at around 8pm, they said to us 'this is a priority'."

He said he did not blame the paramedics who arrived on the scene, but said it would have been helpful to have more advice as to how to help make Hall more comfortable.

The family have lodged a complaint with East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) and an investigation is set to take place, which could take up to 60 days.

Richard Lyne, divisional director of EMAS, said: "I would like to offer my deepest condolences to Mr Hall’s family, all of whom we understand have faced a deeply difficult time.

"Patient care and safety is always our priority and I am sorry that on this occasion the service provided to Mr Hall was not to the standard he rightly expected.

"At the time of Mr Hall’s call there was continued high demand on EMAS and the wider NHS system, and we were responding to a number of people whose life was reported to be at immediate risk.

"We are currently in contact with Mr Hall’s family through our Patient Advice and Liaison Service and are fully investigating the reason for this delay."