AN AMBULANCE service has issued an apology after an unconscious hockey player was left lying on the ground for nearly 90 minutes before medical help arrived.

The incident took place at John Hanson Community School during a league match between Andover Hockey Club Ladies and Surbiton Ladies last month.

Two players collided during a challenge, with the unnamed Surbiton player being knocked unconscious as a result.

An ambulance was immediately called to the school while players and coaches attempted to look after the girl, who was described as conscious but ‘incoherent’.

But it took almost an hour-and-a-half for an ambulance crew to arrive at the scene; all the while the girl remained on the cold ground unable to be moved.

One spectator, Alan Davis, 75, said he was “disgusted” by the response time.

He said: “It was absolutely shocking how long it took for them to arrive – I was disgusted.

“She had a really serious injury but for an hour-and-a-half she was just left lying there on the cold and wet surface.

“The girl’s parents turned up four minutes after the ambulance and they had come all the way from Surbiton.”

He added: “I have to commemorate the other girls who laid beside her to keep her calm and reassure her.

“They all did a fantastic job.”

A spokesperson for the service said: “South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) can confirm that we were called at 13.29 on 23 January 2016 to an incident on Floral Way, Andover.

“Based on the information given by the caller, the incident was categorised as a 30-minute response.

“At the time we were notified of the incident, we were experiencing a high level of demand for emergency responses in the area.

“We dispatched a Rapid Response Vehicle to the incident at 13.33; however this was diverted to a higher priority call.

“Our Clinical Support Desk remained in contact with the caller during this time to assess the patient’s condition.

“We received another call at 14.46 to the same incident, which was categorised as a 60-minute response.

“Unfortunately there was a delay in SCAS sending an ambulance crew to convey the patient to hospital due to high levels of demand.

“An ambulance crew was dispatched as soon as it was available at 14.40, arriving on scene 17 minutes later.

The spokesperson added: “We would like to apologise to the patient and their family for the delay in an ambulance arriving on scene and scene.

“We are sorry that on this occasion the timely service that we aim to achieve was not of the standard we set ourselves and strive to deliver for every patient.

“We would invite the patient and their family to formally contact our patient experience team so that we can address any concerns or feedback that they have.”