AN ambulance was only sent to a seriously-ill mother and wife after hours of waiting when she stopped breathing, an inquest was told.

Maria Devlin, of Ashingdon Heights, Rochford, died in the early hours of March 30 last year from heart and stomach issues, aged 57.

Six calls were made to emergency services by Mrs Devlin’s family starting at 5.33pm on March 29.

However an ambulance was not sent out until 12.30am on March 30 and did not arrive until 1.20am.

Mrs Devlin was pronounced dead at her home at 1.57am.

At an inquest into her death continued in Essex Coroner’s Court, Chelmsford yesterday, Christopher Hewetson, patient safety officer at East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) was questioned by barrister Jack Nicholls on behalf of the Devlin family.

Mr Hewetson said: “We were at surge level four on the night which is the highest level. If the ambulance service is at surge there’s very little we can do.

“Sometimes we have to tell patients to make their own way or contact 111 but is all we can really do, other alternatives are asking for resources from private ambulance services or St John’s.”

The court heard discussions were had over Mrs Devlin’s problems with breathing which the family described as ‘laboured’.

However, Mrs Devlin’s condition was not classified as category one by the EEAST, which is the most urgent category for patients.

Instead, she was placed in category two, despite further calls made with her condition worsening each time.

During the 999 calls it was never suggested by call handlers that Mrs Devlin was taken to hospital by her family, despite the long wait for an ambulance.

Call handlers stated several times an ambulance was en-route and the family did not want to risk further harm to Mrs Devlin by transporting her themselves.

Mr Hewetson added: “At the very beginning of the calls Mrs Devlin was placed in predicted category one based on a description of ‘noisy breathing’.

“Based on the criteria, once it was established that the breathing was not ‘ineffective’, at no point was the patient classed as category one, she remained category two at all times.”

Mr Nicholls said: “The only thing that got Mrs Devlin an ambulance was when it was declared she stopped breathing after the final call, that’s what was required to get an ambulance which is quite a shock.

“That’s the reality in a first world country and a relatively wealthy area.”

Mr Hewetson responded: “Yes that may have well been the case.”

The inquest will continue in January.