ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) – A veteran who collapsed in an Albuquerque Veteran Affairs hospital cafeteria – 500 yards from the emergency room – died after waiting 30 minutes for an ambulance, officials confirmed Thursday.
It took a half an hour for the ambulance to be dispatched and take the man from one building to the other, which is about a five-minute walk, officials at the hospital said.
Kirtland Air Force Medical Group personnel performed CPR until the ambulance arrived, VA spokeswoman Sonja Brown said.
Staff followed policy in calling 911 when the man collapsed on Monday, she said. “Our policy is under expedited review,” Brown said.
That policy is a local one, she said.