Lucy Mecklenburgh has claimed she was denied an ambulance on a number of occasions when her young children had to go to A&E.
The former TOWIE star, 31, took to her Instagram Story on Monday to reveal she was once even forced to wait 20 minutes before speaking to a 999 handler.
Her son Roman, two, who she shares with fiancé Ryan Thomas, 38, has been hospitalized multiple times with viruses and fluid in her lungs, while her daughter Lilah, four months, recently required medical attention for bronchiolitis.
“I waited over 20 minutes for my 999 call to even be answered!” Lucy Mecklenburgh has claimed that her ambulances were denied when her young children required emergency care (pictured in July 2022).
Following a Good Morning Britain report of longer wait times for ambulances, Lucy wrote on the social media platform: “Unfortunately I have had to call ambulances for my children many times.
“On one occasion I waited over 20 minutes for my 999 call to even be answered and was also told there were no ambulances available. Can you please drive your baby to the hospital, which is impossible with a small child struggling to breathe?
‘Enough is enough!!!!!!! Something must be done! That breaks my heart.’
She later added: “I’ve received a lot of sad news from stories [sic] waiting for ambulance.
Oh dear: Her son Roman, two, who she shares with fiancé Ryan Thomas, 38, has been hospitalized multiple times with viruses and fluid in his lungs
“I think we are all aware that the NHS is very overburdened, understaffed and underfunded at the moment and it must be awful to be the person to say to a parent/indigent that this is the case [sic] no ambulance available.
“A lot of people have written to me that a big problem is people calling 999 unnecessarily. Instead of dialing 111, dialing your family doctor or driving to the emergency doctor yourself (if possible).
‘Thank you for all your kind messages. Finally I would like to thank all the lovely hard working NHS staff who have helped my baby over the past 2 years.
“Now I’m getting out of here enjoying Halloween with my kids Xx.”
Scary: Ryan and Lucy’s daughter Lilah, four months, suffered a health scare of her own when she was rushed to hospital and put on oxygen after becoming ‘really bad’ with bronchiolitis (pictured with Ryan’s daughter Scarlett from a previous relationship)
Lucy and Ryan’s son Roman was hospitalized earlier this month during a family break in Carlisle.
Actor Ryan shared a photo of his toddler in an A&E crib, telling his Instagram followers that they “sadly have been in this situation many times.”
Last month Lucy was in hospital with the couple’s eldest child as he battled a virus.
The Coronation Street star shared a black and white photo of Roman resting in his hospital bed on Sunday night and wrote: “My little man and I have sadly been in this situation many times.
“But this weekend we spent 24 hours in hospital, far from home – but we wanted to say a big thank you to all the doctors and nurses at Cumberland Infirmary for their hard work and dedication to ensuring we receive the best possible care.
“Me and my boy are safe at home thanks to you. We are really grateful.’
Ryan, Lucy and their children were enjoying a weekend at their friends’ house in Cumbrian when Roman was taken to the emergency room, with Lucy documenting the weekend on her Instagram account.
Last month Lucy rushed Roman to hospital and revealed he was battling a virus – almost a year to the day he was discovered “blue in his bed”.
The reality star previously opened up about how her little boy spent a week in intensive care and on a ventilator last September, describing it as “every parent’s worst nightmare.”
Bad: Lucy and Ryan’s son Roman was hospitalized earlier this month during a family break in Carlisle
The TV favorite announced Roman is back in hospital but reassured fans the two-year-old is on the mend and just needs “a little help” to stave off the illness.
The mother-of-two once again took Roman for urgent medical treatment after contracting an infection in kindergarten.
In her Instagram story, the influencer shared a snapshot of the toddler in a hospital ward with the cubicle curtains drawn.
Captioning the snap, she mused, “Should be on a beach. Why did I send Roman to preschool this week?’
She went on to reassure fans that Roman is on the mend, explaining, “He’s fine, he just needs some help fighting virus sometimes. Nebulizers, oxygen, steroids, antibiotics. Bless him, I wish I had kept him out of preschool and brought him to the sunshine sooner.’
Last year, Roman spent nearly a week in intensive care and was diagnosed with “virally induced wheezing.”
Lucy wrote at the time: “As some of you may have noticed, we haven’t been on social media lately. A little over a week ago I found Roman Blue in his crib – probably every parent’s worst nightmare.
“Without going into much detail, Roman ended up being transferred to intensive care at St Mary’s in London and put on a ventilator. Luckily we’re all home now and Roman is his naughty self again.
Lucy said the experience led her to get involved with charities for sick children and the hospital where Roman was taken.
Lucy is also mum to daughter Lilah, who suffered a health scare of her own last month when she was rushed to hospital and put on oxygen after becoming “really bad” from bronchiolitis.
Lilah contracted bronchiolitis from Roman, who picked up the illness in preschool, and suffered from “coughing and choking” before being rushed to the hospital.
Scare: Last year Roman spent almost a week in intensive care and was diagnosed with a ‘viral induced wheeze’ (Ryan pictured in hospital with Roman in September 2021)