5 hours wait for an ambulance and counting

I feel for you OP - I know I'm replying a few days after your post but I wanted to say I've sort of been there. My mum fell/collapsed whatever in her bathroom three weeks ago and we had to wait for the ambulance. Then she was completely unable to walk and the carer said she thought we should call the GP. GP said to call the ambulance again and say that she wanted her admitted which I did. Three weeks on her mobility is almost non existent and we are waiting for her to be transferred to another hospital for rehab/physio.

I hope your mum is on the mend and that you can get more help to keep her comfortable.

I think what shocked me with my MIL was that there was a fast forward to deal with the practicalities and absolutely no chance they would take her in an ambulance to hospital to run tests/treatment. Maybe this was a barrier to stop a bed being used up. Maybe it was genuinely seen as the best way forward. It seems that the pp’s saying it’s not an emergency are not being unsympathetic they are reflecting the response you might get at some times in some regions. I’m really glad you got the ambulance, it’s what I wanted and expected however I’m just posting to share how things might be handled differently should anyone else end up in this position and god knows I hope they don’t

Adult social care for a care package, hoists etc

she needs a care package surely op?
people to assist with getting her to the toilet, hoists and standers?

Sadly when my MIL experienced this the response the family got was exactly as per PP’s called ‘mean’. Not an emergency. Call the GP. There was no admission to hospital but a care package was put in place. I was completely shocked. I thought not being able to stand/walk would be up there as an emergency. Nope. I’m not saying it’s right just sharing that experience which was 5 years ago so no covid.

Hopefully everything will progress quickly and positively now that your mum is in hospital and tests and treatment has started.

bless your heart op.
it always takes a long time for an ambulance even before covid.
i do help she gets the help she needs

Your poor mum. Glad she's in and being cared for now.

I understand. We once waited 10 hours for an ambulance for my grandmother. It was 2am before it arrived. She wasn't an emergency, but there was no other way to get her to hospital due to her mobility. It's so stressful. I'm sorry you and your mum had to go through this.

So sorry to hear about your mum. I honestly can’t understand the nasty responses to someone in such a worrying situation in the middle of the night! Being so antagonistic and negative must be exhausting.

Fingers crossed for some news soon 🤞

Thankfully the unkind and hard of thinking posters were in the minority.

Hope you had a good nights sleep @FredaFox and that your Mum is soon back home, well.

How's your mum doing? my gran had a similar sounding condition (syringomyelia) and it was just awful. She lived with us my whole life so we could look after her until she passed just before I turned 18. Really hope your mum's ok x

@FredaFox was thinking of you and your poor mum and hoping you get good news today. What a worry for you. Hang in there!

I hope your mum had an okay night @FredaFox and you got some rest.

@FredaFox hopefully you’re sleeping now but I just wondered how your dear mum was today?

@fredafox we're doing as well as we can. Today was our first father's day without him so that was tough but we're getting there. Glad your mum is being looked after. I hope they get to the bottom of it soon

Sorry I didn't mean my post like that - I've sat for many hours waiting for an ambulance with my mum on the floor only for an ambulance to arrive and them say 'Oh no, we should have had you as a higher priority'

We learned how to speak their language and the next time they didn't treat her as 'just a fall' as we knew what to say. If her observations had been normal, we would still have had the long wait but I meant it might have been helpful for another person instead of like us saying 'fall' when actually your parent is really ill and the 999 person misses it.

Pleased to hear she is being looked after now, hope she is back home soon. Old age and the ill health it brings can be terribly unkind.

[quote VaguelyInteresting]@CustardyCreams

You are deranged.

Being unable to stand or a sudden reduction in movement, when you have previously had the ability to, is absolutely a medical emergency.

Google “cauda equina” for just one example.[/quote]
Agree.

How can people be so lacking in common sense?

OP I hope your mother is all right, I hope you got some rest.

@FredaFox hope everything is OK now - I hope this never happens again but if it does they prioritize on the basis of the person's observations so if you are able to do this if helps:

pulse
count respiratory rate for one minute
blood pressure
are they confused when they normally aren't
oxygen saturations

I had to do this for my mum, we had by chance bought a home BP monitor a couple of days before and her horrendous reading meant that she got prioritized to an immediate ambulance.

So glad your mum is finally comfortable and being seen to.
Sadly, the help didn't come quick enough for my dad, we lost him in November

I hope you got some sleep, Freda.