A WORRIED mother whose baby twins were struggling to breathe was told they may have to wait hours for an ambulance.

Ruth Bailey, mother of four-month-old Fred and Charlie, said she rang 999 on two separate occasions as her twins breathing problems and was told of long wait times.

West Midlands Ambulance Services said the call was treated as a category two, which requires a response within 19 minutes, but the service was under pressure. 

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Ambulance services stood down after Miss Bailey told the call handler she would drive her children to A&E rather than wait.

This happened on two occasions for the same symptoms with the children taken to A&E at Worcestershire Royal on Thursday (December 28) and Monday (January 2).

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Miss Bailey, who is a healthcare professional, said: "My partner and I were very worried, it is very scary for an ambulance to not prioritise a baby.

"You want them to be seen there and then.

Worcester News: TWINS: Charlie TWINS: Charlie (Image: Ruth Bailey)

"We were told it could be Covid or the flu that's going around.

"After that, we took them to A&E ourselves.

"But in order to get them there, I had to put them in the back of the car while I was driving and I couldn't see them which was quite scary."

They were at the hospital on the Thursday for five hours and saw a doctor before being discharged at 6am.

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Miss Bailey, age 38, rang 999 for a second time after she noticed Charlie was still having breathing problems.

"It was really stressful because I had to drive Charlie to the hospital on my own and leave Fred at home with my partner."

Fred tested positive for covid-19.

Miss Bailey said: "I was torn because one baby is in hospital and the other is at home and both are poorly. 

"I understand that some people misuse it and use it for things they shouldn't do.

"I agree with the strikes, I believe they should be treated better and it shouldn't be the way it is."

A spokesperson from the ambulance services said: "We received the first 999 call at 9.31pm on Thursday 29th December for two patients, which was categorised as a C2 call which requires a response within 19 minutes.

"The caller was informed that due to pressure on the service, some patients were facing long waits and at 9.35pm she said she would take the patients to hospital herself, and we were stood down.

"We received a second 999 call at 3am on Monday 2nd January for one patient, this was again categorised as a C2 call.

"Having again informed the caller of the long waits some patients were experiencing, she said she would take the patient to hospital herself and we were stood down at 3.06am".