Chasing up ambulance

[Mariell]

My mother fell and my father couldn’t get her up. He called ambulance 9.30pm.

Called ambulance again at midnight. Ambulance came 5.30am!

This was a couple of days ago and My mother is in hospital.

I live over 300 miles away.

My dad has recently given the emergency cord alarm people my phone number.

He has fallen and cannot get up so cant get to his landline or mobile phone and is stuck on the floor. He pulled an emergency cord and was able to speak.

They have called an ambulance.

Given the time taken recently to get an ambulance to my mother do I call and chase it up?

My parents were doing great but in a very short space of time have their health has rapidly declined so all this is emergency stuff is new to us.

So worrying for you op 💐 hope the ambulance comes soon for your poor dad xx

@HandforthParishCouncilClerk

Ok firstly you can ask for a police welfare check.

In the medium term, you need to have the details of the alarm company written down ready in case you need to contact them. And to introduce yourself to their neighbours and have one keep a spare key.

In the long term, you need to look at either you or your parents moving closer for support I think.

Unfortunately it will be a long wait for an ambulance - a slip and fall with no confirmed injury will be quite far down the list of priorities.

My parents do not have an upstairs neighbour, it’s empty and for sale. The two other neighbours are far more decrepit than my parents so if no help at all. I’ve already asked my dad that.

Yes I need to get the alarm company details.

Is there anyone who could leave now, and go to your Dad’s? He maybe looking at hours laying on the floor, as others have said he will be a low
Priority if there is no confirmation of injury.
I know that this has all changed the last few days but someone need to take responsibility of managing their health and care needs. Whether this is yourself or social services. The immediate issue is getting your dad help. Will the ambulance service be able to get into the flat when they arrive?

What HandforthParishcouncil said above OP. Ask for a Police welfare check especially if your Dad is locked in. You need to reorganise your plans today and drive to see your parents. You need to be on the spot to advocate for them.
And put in a complaint if the emergency alarm people didn't actually call 999 immediately.
Sorry you are having to deal with this.

Something similar happened to the parent of someone my husband works with; the parent was in the West Country and the son in London. He actually made it there before the ambulance did.
Hopefully your dad's ambulance won't be too much longer now. But you do need to set to work addressing all the potential problems going forward.
In the mean time I think I might try ringing the actual police station as you say they're so close (not 999, ring the station switchboard if you can find a number). They might be able to send someone out. The key thing is a problem though.

I’ve called 999 but they could only put me through to my police area in Wales so they said they could not help and I had to ring 999 again and ask to be put through to the police where my father lives!

I did this and they insisted they could not do this but put me through to another welsh emergency girl who was able to take all the details and she is going to phone the ambulance service.

She said the police will not go round there u less it’s to assist the emergency services in gaining entry and that they are not allowed to help my dad up off the floor as they are not medically trained and could worsen any injury by doing so!

She said they are not bound by data protection so the ambulance service can tell her an eta of the ambulance.

She has said she will call me back with an update. She was very helpful.

Sometimes the emergency button provider have someone they can physically send (costs extra of course). But I agree with @Travelledtheworld that you probably need to jump in the car this morning so you can sort things out in person.

@Mariell thanks for taking the time to update us.
I really do think you need to go to your parents. If your Dad has to go to hospital and is confused at all he really needs someone to be with him.
Sorry, you will have to start to making some life changing decisions because this will happen again.
I went through all this with my own parents.
And well done for persisting with all the 999 calls.

[quote Travelledtheworld]@Mariell thanks for taking the time to update us.
I really do think you need to go to your parents. If your Dad has to go to hospital and is confused at all he really needs someone to be with him.
Sorry, you will have to start to making some life changing decisions because this will happen again.
I went through all this with my own parents.
And well done for persisting with all the 999 calls.[/quote]
I am unable to travel down to them at the moment as I have recently incurred a back injury and cannot drive at the moment so it’s a disaster all round!

I’m having to organise everything at this end.

The police have phoned me back and will not be doing a welfare check as they are not allowed to lift him.
They have spoken to ambulance service who has said it’s been lodged but there is going to be a delay.

She has suggested phoning my dads GP to see if so own there can go round as they will be medically trained. I’m trying to look them up now and call them.

Their GP online says it’s open but when I call it the message says it’s closed until next working day and to call 111 for emergency!

I know all families are different, and I would have set off there after the second fall, so I'm sure you have your reasons for not going. I hope they can get some local support ASAP.

So worrying for you OP, sending prayers x

The gp surgery is likely to only open phone lines at 0800/0830 so keep trying them and hopefully you'll get through.

Hi, if your Dad is in Wales I know the Ambulance service is massively stretched. Waits of 7,9 & 14 hours in some areas for falls. Do you not have anyone that can go over to him?

Do you know the reasons for your mums fall? I'm just wondering if they have both got the same sort of symptoms it seems a bit odd...hope you can get them some help soon.

Unfortunately they prioritize the cells, the emergencies (life threatening) will be seen before the non emergencies (non life threatening falls)

Ring GP surgery from 8 or 8.30 it will be closed before then.
Your parents need to move closer to you as this will unfortunately happen again.

Our NHS is literally imploding, it’s very badly broken. Our local hospital currently has 14 ambulances queuing outside A&E waiting to offload patients. They have no ambulances left to go to even category 1 calls!

I really hope your parents recover

Can you try and work out which alarm company he has ? Perhaps by googling the name of the retirement flats - are they a chain - does the for sale flat have details perhaps of the alarm system.Piper used to be main one doing this but now there are lots. If you can phone the alarm company they can then check in and try and talk to your father and see if he is awake. We are using alexa as a back up communication option tool. Hope your Dad is seen soon.

As a side note, my dad has a number of falls. I bought some smart speakers to put in every room. And taught him how to use his voice to call me if needed and how to answer if I called him. This mean's he can get help from me if he can't reach the phone or pull cord

You need to get in the car or on the train and assess your parents situation yourself. If there is no key box now is the time for you to get one fitted.

Im really sorry to say this but I don’t think the GP is going to help. They would have to send 2 people if they were to plan to get him up off the floor and they just won’t have that resource on a Monday morning.

I completely understand how hard it is not knowing. You really need the care line people to speak to him through the box and check he’s ok as if they can’t raise him the ambulance call can be escalated.

My MIL was in this position last year but we are close by so went round. She could not be moved until the ambulance crew assessed her as she had a pain in her hip. She was on the floor for 7 hours.

I’m really sorry @Mariell it’s so hard. I hope he’s ok

@Mariell sorry to hear that. I currently have a broken ankle so share your misery.
Have you been able to get in touch with your father at all ?
Is there a manager or any staff at all for the so called "retirement apartments" ?
Is there absolutely no one locally who can bang on the door and speak to your Dad through the letterbox ?
No other family you can call on, or a friend who can drive you ?

I am sure you have already gone through those options but trying to be vaguely helpful.

@SisforSarah

does your dad not know someone who can go round to help?

No-one

Slight derail (agree with PP who say don’t keep calling back).

But how do your parents not know anyone who can help? Professionally I see this all the time, but personally have no experience of it and simply don’t understand how people end up in this situation. My DM lives 120 Miles away. She was ill pre covid and her whole village looked after her- food deliveries, laundry done, dog walked. We have 80 yr old neighbours and regularly help them.
How do you get to a situation where you basically have no one who can help?

If you see it professionally, how can you not understand the situation

I am not sure describing your DM's idyllic village life is very supportive or helpful right now. If the OP had this option, she wouldn't be in the situation she is.

I was going to suggest a local Facebook group but that's fraught with dangers tbh. Surely the cord company / retirement owners have a protocol ? Isn't that what you are paying for ? You say you can't go because of your back - have you a friend that can go on your behalf ?

@bestbefore

Do you know the reasons for your mums fall? I'm just wondering if they have both got the same sort of symptoms it seems a bit odd...hope you can get them some help soon.

I was thinking this too. It may just be a coincidence, or they could both have a virus causing temporary decline, but I’d also want their flat checked for anything like a carbon monoxide leak.