Woman, 89, ordered off ambulance

Ms Hawes had been due to have a cancerous growth removed

South Western Ambulance Service has apologised to a Somerset woman after refusing to take her for an operation and ordering her out of an ambulance.

The driver apparently said Betty Hawes, 89, was not entitled to the transport because her appointment was at her doctor's surgery and not a hospital.

Ms Hawes said she the incident had left her very upset.

In a letter to Ms Hawes, the ambulance service said the trip to the surgery should have never been aborted.

I couldn't believe it. I said 'this is ludicrous and such a ridiculous thing to be happening' Catherine Hinch, care home manager

Ms Hawes had been due to have an operation to remove a cancerous growth from her face.

An ambulance was booked to pick her up from her care home in Keinton Mandeville, near Somerton, and take her to an appointment 10 miles away.

She and her wheelchair were loaded on to the ambulance - but once the driver found out the trip was to a doctor's surgery and not a hospital she was ordered off.

Ms Hawes said she had to be unstrapped from the ambulance.

"It took me 24 hours to get over the incident, I was very upset," she added.

The home's manager, Catherine Hinch, said she had tried to argue for "common sense" with the driver but failed.

"I couldn't believe it. I said 'this is ludicrous and such a ridiculous thing to be happening' .

"Apparently it was all about budgets," she added.

In a letter, South West Ambulance Service said Ms Hawes should have never been ordered off.

"We would like to unreservedly apologise for any distress, concern or anxiety caused the incident caused you."