Bingo customers at a Gala Club in Brighton have taken offence as the caller refused to stop a bingo game even though a woman collapsed and at one point was thought to have died. The problem is at what point do you stop playing bingo and is it in the best interests to carry on the game?

Witnesses said that customers had shouted at the bingo caller to stop the game after a woman collapsed with a suspected heart attack. The game was continued, although an ambulance was called to the Gala Bingo club in Freshfield Road, Brighton.

Bingo players were told that it was the company policy to continue with the game while the woman was being treated. A spokesman for Coral, Gala Bingo’s parent company, said their “duty of care” was always with the customer.

Most bingo operators would agree with the policy held by Gala Bingo. If you stop the game customers will crowd around the patient and make it much difficult to both treat them and ensure a speedy exit if such is necessary. In addition having crowds of people could make the person feel significantly worse. If you were not well or had a medical condition would you really want loads of fellow bingo players gathering around you? Many First Aid related incidents in a bingo club involve customers fainting for various reasons and generally this can be treated by giving the person a little bit of space and a drink of water to sip.

However customers at the Gala Bingo club have taken the Gala Bingo policy to suggest that the company doesn’t care enough for its customer and some have even suggested they are not going back to the club.

Aaron Casey, 22, was playing bingo at the club with her mum, Joanne Wheeler, 43, on Wednesday at about 7.30pm when the woman collapsed.

The hairdresser said: “A customer shouted help but we thought she shouted house.

“Half the bingo hall was saying stop calling.

“There was a weak pulse and at one point one of the customers said she was dead.

“I will never go to Gala Bingo again. I am ashamed at how they treat their customers.”

A spokesperson for South East Coast Ambulance Service confirmed paramedics were called to the bingo hall: “It was reported that a patient was unconscious and needed medical attention.”

The lady was taken to the Royal Sussex Hospital. A spokesperson for Gala Coral commented: “Our priority is to tend to the customer as best and as quickly as we can.

“There is no question that our duty of care is to the customer.”