A CALDICOT woman was forced to wait for an ambulance for three hours after suffering a back injury on Monday night.

Rachel Marshall, 41, explained how she was walking with her daughter on Longfellow Road when she was knocked over by her daughter's dog, injuring her back in the fall.

The 999 call was made at 7.50pm but an ambulance didn't arrive until 10.50pm, with the retail assistant left in agony on the ground.

An off-duty paramedic, who happens to live nearby, kept Mrs Marshall her warm while she waited for help.

Husband, Monmouthshire county councillor John Marshall, said: "She examined my wife and said that she shouldn't be moved because it was a back injury,"

"Whilst I understand that there are priorities for more life-threatening injuries, it's still beyond belief that someone was made to wait for three hours in the cold."

Upon reaching the Royal Gwent Hospital, Mr Marshall said that they were greeted by scenes of "pandemonium" as patients on trolleys were waiting in queues in the hospital corridors.

Mr Marshall said that, in his opinion, inadequate support was provided for his wife who was in "absolute agony".

"I just think it's beyond what should be acceptable these days," he said.

Darryl Collins, the Welsh Ambulance Service’s Head of Operations for the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board area apologised for the delay in getting an ambulance to Mrs Marshall, explaining that Monday (June 23) was a particularly busy night for the ambulance crews.

He said: "Monday was a challenging night for our crews and unfortunately some calls were not met within the time we would have wanted.

“We would like to apologise to Mrs Marshall for the wait she experienced during what must have been a distressing situation for her.

“We would also encourage her to contact the Trust directly so that we can address her concerns.”

A spokesman for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said: “Our accident and emergency departments have continued to be extremely busy in recent weeks and months.

"When patients arrive at A&E they are initially assessed by a nurse and their care will be prioritised according to the seriousness of their condition.”