A pensioner was locked inside an ambulance for five hours

An investigation has been launched into how a poorly pensioner was locked inside an ambulance for five hours when its driver forgot about him and clocked off duty.

The 65-year-old man was trapped inside the vehicle - a non-emergency ambulance used for ferrying patients to appointments - at Sharston ambulance station in Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester.

The OAP, a kidney patient, was locked inside from 7.15pm on Tuesday to nearly 1am the following day.

The driver, who was supposed to return him to his care home in nearby Northenden from a hospital appointment, has been suspended.

It is thought the driver forgot about the man after dropping off three other patients who were inside the ambulance. Because the man was usually home from his regular Tuesday appointment by 7.30pm staff raised the alarm.

Darren Hurrell, chief executive of the North West Ambulance Service, said: "The Trust was extremely concerned to learn of the incident which occurred on Tuesday October 27, concerning a patient left in one of our non-emergency patient transport vehicles.

"We are taking this extremely seriously and have offered our sincere apologies to the patient and his family. A member of staff has been suspended with immediate effect and the Trust has commenced a full investigation.

"We have met with the patient and family to discuss the matter with them in greater detail and will continue to liaise closely with them throughout this process. All possible steps will be taken to ensure that this never happens again."

An ambulance source said the driver was a man with a good record who was usually very reliable.

The source said: "We went to visit the patient and his family the next day and both said they didn't want publicity, they didn't want a fuss. He has been extremely gracious. When he was found he was taken to hospital just as a precaution. He was fine and the next day said, credit to him, that it was 'just one of those things'."