Southampton: Man's son barred from ambulance over bed bugs...

A terminally sick man from Southampton has expressed his frustration that his son cannot accompany him in an ambulance for

necessary treatments because of a bed bug infestation.

Due to her several illnesses, Kim Aubin-Mauger, 78, is not anticipated to live for another six to eight months.

He depends on his 64-year-old son, Kevin, to accompany him to the Toledo Renal Dialysis Unit three times per week.

For the past ten years, Kevin has accompanied his wheelchair-using father for emotional and wellness support, and the two travel by

ambulance.

However, Kevin has now been told he would not be allowed to ride along in the ambulance due to a bed bugs in their shared home.

This is despite the infestation having been in place for two years without issue. The pair have been told the ambulance is cleaned after

every trip.

“I want to live as long as I can but the way things are going I won’t live to next Friday,” he said.

“I won’t last three or four days without dialysis, they said. However, I can’t continue without Kevin.

“My son and I have been together for ages. He is everything to me, and I am everything to him. I am taken care of and looked after by

him. He’s a good boy.

“My only wish is for my Kevin to accompany me. What’s wrong and why they did that are unknown to me.

With only 75p in his bank account, Kim is unable to pay for either hiring Kevin to accompany him in a taxi or getting rid of the bed

bugs.

Portswood councillor John Savage has known Kim for years and has been working to try and find a solution to the issue. He said:

“Someone on end of life care should be able to travel to the hospital with their carer.

“I am working with the dialysis unit and I will be speaking with the ambulance service to try and turn that around.”

“South Central Ambulance Service is extremely sensitive to the situation and we are currently working with the renal unit and renal

leads looking after Mr. Aubin-Mauger’s care,” a representative for the NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) said.

“SCAS pledges to keep transporting Mr. Aubin-Mauger, who qualifies for our service.

“We have paused transporting Mr. Aubin-Mauger’s son while the situation is being reviewed, but we are aware that there are no

restrictions at the unit should he wish to travel independently.”

Southampton: Man’s son barred from ambulance over bed bugs