Help! 4 hours waiting for ambulance

[Bonnynorton2]

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.

I agree dust. I work in the public sector in London with vulnerable people I am very well aware of the pressures staff are under. What I find really hard to deal with is constantly being told everything is fine when it clearly isn't. Everyone working in the public sector atm knows it's broken but they carry on smiling and nodding and turning a blind eye to the suffering they see every day. I get it. It's a protective mechanism. Why aren't we more honest about it though? For example to say 'I know there's this nicely designed colourful flow chart on the website explaining how your needs will be met but we all know it's a fantasy and I feel really bad about that. I'm sorry I wish I could help you but I can't'

I am having counselling with the local care charity. The counsellor is great but ultimately I just have to put up with all this and right now I am too angry to accept it.

Thank you scribbly ! The phrases are especially useful. I have written so many letters and emails and constantly on the look out for action trigger vocabulary like that.

anyone who has worked in the NHS could tell tales about service abuse

I’m sure they could but that isn’t the reason why the NHS is on its knees. Service abuse is a nuisance and a waste but it isn’t anywhere near as prolific as some people would have you believe. We also need to look at why it happens, sometimes it’s because people are desperate and can’t find any other way. Yes it’s wrong to lie to the ambulance service about symptoms, but why are we putting people in a situation where they might feel the need to? Surely that’s the question that needs to be asked.