A FRAIL patient missed a vital appointment at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary after his ambulance was late.

Derek Hine, 79, from Kirkheaton, who suffers with diabetes and complications from a stroke, arrived an hour late to meet his consultant on Wednesday.

But the doctor had been forced to cancel the appointment due to his excessive delay.

Derek, who is being looked after at home by carers following the death of his wife last year, says it is the seventh time the Patient Transport Service has been late to take him to appointments at the infirmary.

He said: “It’s a terrible service, they try their hardest but they’re always late.

“They keep saying they’re going to do something about it but nothing happens.

“I was up at 8am waiting for it to come as my appointment was at 12 noon.

“But it didn’t arrive until half-past 12.

“I could’ve got a taxi but I didn’t know they were going to be so late.

“Not only does it affect the doctors but it causes huge problems for the nurses and my carers.”

Mr Hine is now being forced to wait until Tuesday to get the crucial checks he needs.

“It’s important that I go,” he said.

“I’m insulin dependent and I could develop hypoglycemia. I have once.”

The Patient Transport Service is operated by the Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

A spokesperson for Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said: “We would like to offer our sincere apologies to Mr Hine for the delay to his transport arrangements.

“We have been in touch with him directly to discuss his concerns and are looking into the matter further on his behalf”.