Mum told to give seriously ill son painkillers amid ambulance delay

The mother of a Belfast man, who collapsed outside a hospital, said she was shocked when a 999 call handler told her he should take painkillers as they would have to wait hours for an ambulance.

Brian Rooney, 35, suffered a heart attack outside the Royal Victoria Hospital's emergency department after his bowel had perforated at home.

He is now in an induced coma following emergency surgery, which resulted in the removal of his intestine.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) apologised to Mr Rooney and his family "for not meeting their expectations in terms of the care provided to him".

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Source: BBC online, 8 January 2025