'Do you have a dog?' Wife's fury over 999 'dog quiz' as husband lays dying
A WOMAN who called 999 when her husband had a heart attack was told to use the NHS non-emergency 111 service – where an operator asked her: “Do you have a dog?”
Christine Gayther, 69, begged for an ambulance as Terry, 75, lay fighting for life.
But the call handler just asked scripted questions – including her husband’s ethnicity and if she owned a pet dog.
It is important callers answer questions our call takers ask so the ambulance crew know what they might encounter
Mrs Gayther then rang 999 for a second time to demand emergency help.
An ambulance eventually arrived in Bromley Cross, near Bolton, Greater Manchester, 45 minutes after her first call.
Mr Gayther is home again after spending 10 days in hospital.
His wife has complained to North West Ambulance Service. She said: “Terry was dying before my eyes yet I was being asked inane questions.”
An ambulance spokesman said: “It is important callers answer questions our call takers ask so the ambulance crew know what they might encounter.
“One is, are there any dogs on the property.”