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Original poster

Help! 4 hours waiting for ambulance

103 replies

Bonnynorton2 · 16/04/2019 20:32

DF has fallen and broken his hip. He has dementia. He has been lying in pain for probably about 7 hours at at home.His carer found him 4 hours ago and called an ambulance. They are still waiting. The carer has been unable to visit other people he cares for or go home. I live 5 hours away. If I had known the wait would be that long I would have left immediately. Any suggestions about what I can do? DF lives in Dorset and I live in London.

OP posts:
CherryPavlova · 16/04/2019 20:34

Tell her to ring back and say he’s chest his hurting now.

Paradyning · 16/04/2019 20:35

Really @CherryPavlova

Harp1977 · 16/04/2019 20:36

As awful as this may sound, does he have health insurance or savings? Could you hire a private ambulance or the Red Cross or St Johns Ambulance to transfer him with a Dr/GP note if possible?
I hope he will be seen to soon SadFlowers

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JaneEyre07 · 16/04/2019 20:37

Dear God, he could have bled to death in that time.

Get the carer to phone half hourly for updates. That's absolutely appalling.

FrozenMargarita17 · 16/04/2019 20:39

Christ don't tell them his chest is hurting that is really bad !

Foodtheif · 16/04/2019 20:39

It is shocking but I guess there’s been others in higher need. To claim he has chest pains could put someone more needy at the bottom of the list and mean different assessments and treatments for him when he actually gets to the hospital. Chest pains will be the priority and not any breaks etc that he may actually have. Definitely get the Carer to ring back and check he’s not been forgotten. I do feel for your poor dad. It’s bloody awful

Redskyandrainbows67 · 16/04/2019 20:41

Well have you phoned up and checked that they logged the call properly?

doowapwap · 16/04/2019 20:41

Don't tell them he has chest pains, the carer could get in trouble telling that lie and that could potentially put other people's lives at risk.

This is so awful for your DF, can the carers company offer any help in terms of ringing the ambulance service? Can they send someone to sit with them? Must be so frustrating being so far away.

Original poster
Bonnynorton2 · 16/04/2019 20:41

Is it possible to hire a private ambulance? Has anyone done that? How dies one go about it?

OP posts:
Queenfreak · 16/04/2019 20:42

I would a) leave now and drive to him if I could
B) as carer to call back and ask what's happening.

Nicknacky · 16/04/2019 20:42

It dreadful and it’s shocking how under staffed the ambulance service is.

But please ignore *cherry”’s advice

Original poster
Bonnynorton2 · 16/04/2019 20:43

I agree it would be wrong to lie about chest pains. Carer and manager have been calling repeatedly to find out what’s happening with ambulance

OP posts:
BoreOfWhabylon · 16/04/2019 20:44

Get carer to call back emphasising your father's age and how long he's been on the floor.

Original poster
Bonnynorton2 · 16/04/2019 20:44

I don’t have a car. There are no trains or buses until tomorrow morning. Even then it will take 5/6 hours to get there

OP posts:
grincheux · 16/04/2019 20:46

@Bonnynorton2 - I've sent you a PM.

YeOldeTrout · 16/04/2019 20:46

is he lying on the floor? How old is he? How much longer can carer wait?

CherryPavlova · 16/04/2019 20:47

Well his chest probably does hurt if he’s been lying on the floor that long. He’s likely to get all sorts of complications that put him at risk of very serious complications.
I think given the tardiness, were it my father I’d be getting him moved up the list. Outcomes for a NOF can be very similar to chest pain.
He’s not a malingerer, not using it as a taxi but has a potentially life threatening condition. I’d do whatever I could to ensure he received treatment. They should have a rapid response vehicle with paramedic at least, even if he has to wait for transfer.

YeOldeTrout · 16/04/2019 20:47

Poor man. No dignity. Probably needs the loo. Irk.

Queenfreak · 16/04/2019 20:49

@Bonnynorton2 so my suggestion probably just made you feel worse, I'm so sorry. Flowers
Cant imagine how hard it is sitting there and waiting for news.

Harp1977 · 16/04/2019 20:51

www.patienttransport.co.uk/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw-tXlBRDWARIsAGYQAmehIceNPjPpWyj9kOJF_kOto1sI9W8PpfUNCmHsdMuHIJzFWsSjejAaAjiZEALw_wcB
I am not in the UK so different here but I found this 24 hr private service that maybe able to advise you

Nicknacky · 16/04/2019 20:52

harp That’s for patients who have been treated and require transport, not those who have been injured and require treatment.

user1474894224 · 16/04/2019 20:56

So so sorry for your father. My father lay with a dislocated hip for a number of hours (it was a complication after after a hip replacement)....we gave him his codeine to help. At the point he'd had one too many they classed him as a potential overdose and his priority changed. (Although I doubt a carer can provide something like that...) (We didn't do this deliberately to speed up the ambulance...but hearing your father screaming in agony for hours not knowing when the ambulance will arrive just makes you want to help them in any way possible).

YouAlreadyKnow · 16/04/2019 21:03

Outcomes for a NOF can be very similar to chest pain.

Cite. Your. Source.

....I’ll wait.

Burlea · 16/04/2019 21:03

I'm sorry this is happening to your DF. But why did you not leave immediately if you knew there was no transport after a certain time.if he has dementia even if he had got to the hospital earlier he would of been scared and confused.

Original poster
Bonnynorton2 · 16/04/2019 21:04

Does anyone know if it is possible to call from a different area to find out what is happening with an ambulance?

OP posts: