A TAXI driver took a woman to hospital after she was left waiting for 40 minutes for an ambulance with a dislocated shoulder.

Ann Thomas, 68, of St Julians, Newport, tripped and fell over a broken paving slab in Commercial Street.

Her daughter Helen Thomas, who was shopping in the city centre, ran over to help and called for an ambulance at 1.10pm.

But despite numerous calls no ambulance arrived for 40 minutes.

Desperate to get her mum seen to at hospital, Miss Thomas called on old family friend and taxi driver John Pring to take her to the Royal Gwent Hospital.

When she arrived, she saw seven ambulances sat outside of the Royal Gwent.

Helen said she was angry with the slow response.

"It's just unbelievable, especially as we made seven phone calls to the ambulance."

Mr Pring arrived at 1.50pm to take Mrs Thomas to the Gwent.

He said: "Her arms were obviously hurting, and she was laying there on the floor. She had been sick a few times."

He too was shocked at the slow response.

"It's just wrong that someone should have to wait that long for an ambulance."

A spokesman said an ambulance was sent out to the scene after the initial call - but as diverted as a cardiac arrest call was received soon after.

Another ambulance was dispatched by arrived at 1.50pm -by which time Mr Pring had taken Mrs Thomas to hospital.

He said that the cardiac arrest took priority.

Although he could not confirm how many ambulances were outside the hospital building, he said they were likely waiting to offload patients.

"However it's unfair to suggest that this caused the delay," he added.