An 83-year-old who fell over was left lying on a cold pavement for more than an hour after bystanders called an ambulance - only to watch two drive past.

The stricken pensioner, who had a pacemaker, was unable to move after a fall in Plumstead Common Road on November 18 at 3pm.

Passing paramedics gave her a blanket before heading off again and it was left to bystanders and police officers to look after her at the roadside.

Jim Rackley, 57, an IT engineer, rushed to the woman's aid after she fell on a gentle slope, stopping two other people from moving her and potentially causing further injury."

The Woolwich Road resident, who blames government cuts for the delay, said: "When I found out afterwards that she was 83 and she had a pacemaker I was disgusted. 

"Someone of that age with a bad heart falling over I thought would have been a priority.

"What made it worse was that two ambulances drove past. 

"One went into the opposite direction and the other stopped and threw a blanket over her. It was mad." 

Shop worker Adrian Wilson, 31, said: "I called 999 as Jim went over. I said 'she's fallen over backwards and she can't move'. 

"Twenty minutes later there was still no sign of any ambulance and I thought that was quite strange. 

"By then police who had been going past in an undercover vehicle were with her."

Mr Wilson rang the ambulance back 20 minutes later and says he was told no ambulance had been sent out. 

He said:  "An hour later there was still no ambulance, I rang back 999 quite angry and they said there was nothing they could do, they'd send out the next ambulance available.

"The poor lady was still lying there. The hospital, Queen Elizabeth, is five minutes away. An hour and a half later they turned up in the dark up and take her on a stretcher and take her away." 

A spokesman for the London Ambulance Service said: "We were called at 3.22pm to reports of a person who had fallen on Plumstead Common Road.

“From the information provided to us, we were told the police were on scene and the patient was conscious, breathing and alert.

“Unfortunately we were not able to respond immediately, but understand that a crew who were taking another patient to hospital did briefly stop to check on the patient’s condition and provided blankets.

“We did send an ambulance at 4.03pm, but it was diverted to a patient in a more serious condition.

“A crew arrived at the scene at 4.33pm and our staff treated a woman for arm and back pain before she was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich.

“We’re sorry we could not be there sooner and for any distress this may have caused to the patient.

“We have received a complaint from a member of the public which will be looked into thoroughly, but if the patient or their family would like to know more about what happened, they should contact our Patient Experiences team at 020 3069 0240 or email ped@londonambulance.nhs.uk.”