‘I feel so let down’: long waits for ambulances in south-west England

Problems seen across England are particularly acute in more rural south-west with its older population

• Appalling' waits for ambulances leaving lives at risk
• For staff, this is heartbreaking': senior doctor's view on crisis in urgent care

More than four hours after an ambulance was called, Richard Carpenter, 71, who had had a suspected heart attack, began to despair. Where are they?" he asked his wife, Jeanette. I'm going to die."

She tried to reassure her husband that the crew must surely be close. Perhaps they were struggling to find their rural Wiltshire home in the dark. But I could see I was losing him," she said. She gave her husband CPR and urged him: Don't leave me." But by the time the paramedics arrived another hour or so later, it was too late.