Impaled woman Kim Broadbent forced to wait for ambulance

By Mark Buttler From: Herald Sun December 17, 2009 7:06AM

A WOMAN was impaled on a steel fence for an agonising 47 minutes waiting for an ambulance.

The 34-year-old received no pain relief while her body was supported by volunteer emergency services workers during the ordeal at Yarrawonga, in Victoria's north.

Ambulance Victoria has launched an investigation into the delay.

It was contacted at 9.42pm on Tuesday and told Kim Broadbent had been impaled through the groin in a fall. A crew did not arrive until 10.29pm.

There was no paramedic available in the border town that night and sources said a graduate officer was refused permission to attend.

A crew was sent from Wangaratta, 55km away, but was not cleared to travel over the speed limit or with lights and sirens.

By then, Ms Broadbent had spent more than 47 minutes seriously injured, lapsing in and out of consciousness.

There is widespread disgust in Yarrawonga at the delay.

Ms Broadbent travelled to Melbourne by air ambulance with a section of fence still lodged inside her.

She did not arrive at The Alfred hospital until about three hours after the first call. She was stable last night.

Her mother, Heather Broadbent, attended the scene and said those waiting for the ambulance were supporting her daughter and afraid to move her for fear of doing more damage.

Mrs Broadbent said Wangaratta seemed too far away for an emergency job in Yarrawonga.

Victorian Health Minister Daniel Andrews apologised to Ms Broadbent on 3AW radio this morning.

He said an "urgent review' would be conducted into the incident.

"I want to apologise to Ms Broadbent for the trauma and stress she was put through. This should not have occurred," Mr Andrews said.

"This is an unacceptable response. We need to learn from it and make the changes to ensure it doesn't happen again."

Mr Andrews said he was waiting for a report from Ambulance Victoria.

Ambulance Employees Australia acting general secretary Phil Cavanagh said the review needed to address the question of why Yarrawonga has no ambulance.

From: http://www.news.com.au/national/impaled-woman-kim-broadbent-forced-to-wait-for-ambulance/story-e6frfkvr-1225811201021