A son has hit out at the ambulance trust after his mother died shortly after medical staff twice assessed her but didn't take her to hospital.

Tessa Thompson, 79, of Lakenham, was prescribed antibiotics after being examined by the out-of-hours GP service, but the emergency care practitioner opted against waking her from her sleep – thereby failing to assess her properly.

Ten hours later her son James dialled 999 after it appeared Mrs Thompson had a chest infection and stroke symptoms. But paramedics chose not to take her to hospital, claiming it was against Mrs Thompson's wishes – despite not checking her capacity to make that decision. Just a few hours later Mrs Thompson deteriorated and she was rushed to hospital.

She died five days later from a stroke and pneumonia. Mr Thompson, of Wroxham, said: 'My mother was acutely ill and should have been urgently conveyed to hospital. They perversely placed far too weight on the fact my mother declined to go to hospital. The trust said: 'We offer sincere condolences to the patient's family, and apologise for the decisions to not convey the patient on two occasions, when she was clearly unwell.'