Veteran Dies Waiting for Ambulance in VA Hospital

[thundley4]

A veteran who collapsed in an Albuquerque Veteran Affairs hospital cafeteria, 500 yards from the emergency room, died after waiting 30 minutes for an ambulance, officials confirmed Thursday.

Officials at the hospital said it took a half an hour for the ambulance to be dispatched and take the man from one building to the other, which is about a five minute walk.

VA spokeswoman Sonja Brown said Kirtland Air Force Medical Group personnel performed CPR until the ambulance arrived.

She says staff followed policy in calling 911 when the man collapsed on Monday. "Our policy is under expedited review," Brown said.

The man's name hasn't been released.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/veteran-dies-waiting-ambulance-va-hospital-24415975

I can't wait for the government to be in charge of everyone's healthcare.  This guy basically died in the hospital while waiting for an ambulance.

[Ptarmigan]

30 minutes and 500 yards away. That is really horrible.

[RobJohnson]

How terrible.

[Dori]

Whenever I see emergencies around here, it's always the fire department first on the scene long before an ambulance shows up.