2021-07-31 Rider down, Richmond Park

I passed a rider lying next to the road wrapped in a thermal blanket this morning around 9:00. It was at the bottom of Sawyer's Hill, i.e. in the part of the park where only authorised vehicles are allowed and I didn't see any car. The next time I passed the police had arrived but it took well over an hour for an ambulance to come. Best wishes for the rider and I hope that the ambulance didn't come earlier means it's not a major injury.

Was also there and was surprised how long it took for the ambulance to arrive.

LAS is really under immense pressure.
Heal up rider.

Ambulance services are underfunded and have been for years. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nhs-ambulance-services-national-audit-office-jeremy-hunt-crisis-a7546211.html

I think all but one of the ambulance services is running at their highest level of risk to service. Current cat 3 calls can be up to 8 hours. Pretty much unless the patient is unconscious, not breathing or having an anaphylactic shock (not an exhaustive list but you get my meaning) then one won’t be dispatched quickly and even when it’s on its way it could get diverted to a higher category call.
Pretty much all down to underfunding.