A FRANTIC woman had to drive her mother to Wycombe Hospital herself after an ambulance crew refused because of controversial NHS cuts.

Paramedics said changes meant Anita Templar had to go to Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury – even though Wycombe doctors said they were happy to take her.

Stunned daughter Justine Earl had to sign a form before taking her mother to Wycombe for her to be seen over complications from an abdominal operation at the town’s hospital.

Crew members said they would be ‘really told off by management’ said housewife Mrs Earl, 39. Bosses yesterday said such cases much go to Aylesbury under 2005 A&E cuts.

She said: “Middle management decision making on the part of the Bucks ambulance service put my mother’s life at risk.

“Our doctors and nurses cannot expect to be able to do their job if bureaucracy continues to put lives at risk.

“By superseding clinical need the ambulance service has overstepped the mark.”

Charity boss Mrs Templar, of Little Orchard Close, Longwick, needed help four days after the operation.

Mrs Earl said: “On hearing that my mother had had surgery at Wycombe General Hospital they announced that they could not take her back there.

“I was dumbfounded, but I knew that mum was extremely ill, and I had to act quickly.”

Ex-nurse Mrs Earl rang the hospital, which she said had told to call if there were problems.

She said they told her to bring her mother, who is in her 60s, to Wycombe – but got behind the wheel herself when the ambulance crew again refused.

She said: “No relative should have to ferry their loved one and take responsibility once the ambulance has been called.”

A Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust spokesman said: “We always try to ensure that patients are seen in the most appropriate place according to their injury.

“Stoke Mandeville Hospital is the designated hospital for trauma and emergency surgery, whilst the Emergency Medical Centre at Wycombe Hospital can treat patients with a range of medical conditions including stroke and heart attacks, as well as more minor injuries.”

She urged people who are badly hurt or critically ill to call 999. “For patients in the Wycombe area this may include Stoke Mandeville Hospital,” she said.

She said: “We appreciate Mrs Earl’s frustration and understand that she has contacted South Central Ambulance Service who are investigating her concerns.”

James Keating-Wilkes, spokesman for South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said: “This complaint is subject to an on-going investigation and, as such, it would be inappropriate for us to comment any further until a thorough investigation has been completed.”

It comes after The Bucks Free Press told how gran Angela Bignall was taken to Stoke after falling and breaking her hip inside Wycombe Hospital.