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.

@Petronius16 @prettybird just an fyi - the ecg on the apple watch can NOT be used in a diagnostic manner. At best it can tell you about AF. You simply cannot get the same reading on it as you can with ecg wires, so cannot diagnose from it.

@Mariell im glad your dad has some comfort in going to a hospital in his old living place.. I would be phoning the ward every hour or so to find out; they must have some idea as to what operation he may need - they dont keep people nil by mouth in case they may need an unknown sort of op... Queens is a renowned neuro hospital as well, although that doesn't necessarily mean that is the reason for the transfer..

There's no point, they get there when they can. I'm not downplaying your father's fall, but there are people out there who may be having cardiac arrests for example. They get there when they can and that is what the call handler will tell you.

@ZombiePara - I know that (as does my dad - he's a retired doctor). It was the cardiologist who asked him to send him the print out after he'd had a telephone appointment and dad said he'd noticed irregularities so the cardiologist used the information to bring forward a face-to-face appointment, as dad was already in the system (he was on medication for I think a irregular heartbeat dad is very matter of fact about these things ). At which they did a proper ECG, that resulted in the pacemaker being fitted that afternoon

What Dad is at himself at is that a) he was up ladders helping the roofer at his place the week before and b) that he could've fainted at any time, including while driving when the watch wouldn't have been much help

He has really good neighbours though who keep a look out for him though but he has to remember to open his bedroom curtains by 9.30 or they'll call in the cavalry

Update - I just spoke to my dad!

He has had a bleed on the brain and is being operated on later today!

He sounded slightly slurred and a bit agitated as he is thirsty but they won’t let him have a drink because of the operation.

Despite the huge ordeal of the last few days he sounded ‘with it’ and strong minded but he was worried no one knew where he was so I reassured him I have been following his movements as best I can and all the family know.

This is a fairly positive diagnosis at the moment although any general anaesthetic is a worry but at least we know why his legs kept giving way.

The nurses in the background sounded great and very caring.

Relatives are going to get him a big button mobile phone as he can’t use his current mobile phone as he is now finding it difficult to press the small sized buttons.

I am sorry he’s poorly and needing an operation but glad he finally got taken to hospital. Wishing him well.

[quote prettybird]@ZombiePara - I know that (as does my dad - he's a retired doctor). It was the cardiologist who asked him to send him the print out after he'd had a telephone appointment and dad said he'd noticed irregularities so the cardiologist used the information to bring forward a face-to-face appointment, as dad was already in the system (he was on medication for I think a irregular heartbeat dad is very matter of fact about these things ). At which they did a proper ECG, that resulted in the pacemaker being fitted that afternoon

What Dad is at himself at is that a) he was up ladders helping the roofer at his place the week before and b) that he could've fainted at any time, including while driving when the watch wouldn't have been much help

He has really good neighbours though who keep a look out for him though but he has to remember to open his bedroom curtains by 9.30 or they'll call in the cavalry [/quote]
Ahhh gotcha @prettybird - just wanted ti make sure that other people reading don't think it's a magical diagnostic machine with all the answers!
I'm glad to hear it helped your dad get a pacemaker he needed!

So glad OP that you have an answer for your dad! He is in the ideal place for a bleed

I've been following this thread over the last few days. I'm glad your Dad is now settled and being looked after and getting the medical help he needs.

I hope your Dad gets well soon and makes a good recovery. In the right place now.

wishing your parents a speedy recovery. Look into a company such as Home Instead - they provide care at home but its a 'bespoke' service and your parents will be matched with a careGiver who has similar interests etc. They often form real friendships with these people and become like a member of the family. Might help your parents feel more at ease x

I hope all goes well with the surgery 💐

* Ironically he was going to have his GP visit him this morning at 10.30 to arrange a carer for him.*

The gp was actually going to come out and do an assessment? Are by you sure?

@Marni83

* Ironically he was going to have his GP visit him this morning at 10.30 to arrange a carer for him.*

The gp was actually going to come out and do an assessment? Are by you sure?

My father had a GP appointment that morning to discuss what he needed in terms of what help he could receive at home. He wanted a carer to come twice a day, once in the morning to help him dress and again of an evening to help him undress and get him into bed.

I believe they had already had a phone conversation about this but the visit was to check him over physically because he had started falling.

Of course all that is out the window now.

Update - he’s has the operation and is awake but was able to say he was in pain which although I find that upsetting it also means he has his wits about him and is able to tell them how he is feeling so that’s actually positive that he’s strong enough to ‘complain’!

He is allowed one named visitor and she will be bringing him a large button phone and get it set up for him and then hopefully we will be able to have more contact with him.

I’ve also informed Southend hospital to let my mother know that her husband, my dad is in another hospital as she may be wondering how he is as she doesn’t know he started falling and was admitted to hospital after she was!

You can get that on the nhs?

We had to pay privately for that set up for my father

@Marni83

You can get that on the nhs?

We had to pay privately for that set up for my father

I have no idea whether it was something in the NHS or my father was getting the opinion of the GP about what kind of care he needs.

Although I know is that he said to me that he wanted to have a carer come twice an day and he had a GP appointment on the Monday to discuss it.

It could well be he wanted the GP to recommend an organisation/company or if it was on the NHS.

Neither he or I have ever been in this situation before and no nothing about what happens when you are struggling at home.

It depends on income whether or not you pay. Since pandemic it also depends on whether you can find someone/company. As our GP said, carers are like gold dust here.

Mariell

The NHS don't provide carers as standard, only if someone meets a really specific criteria called CHC, which most people who need care don't.

The GP wouldn't be able to recommend companies, what they would likely do is make a referral to adult social care who could discuss the options (including private. Care is means tested if provided via adult social care. If it's care in the home (rather than in a care home) the value of the property is not taken in to consideration.

Carers are very hard to come by - a mix of Brexit, poor working conditions and covid are to blame for that! And that's whether you go through social services or pay privately.

ZombiePara I was grateful for the information. On three occasions I’ve been fitted with heart monitors for a few days so Medics can find out what’s wrong. Even more ECG’s, still no answers, so thought if I could monitor 24/7 it might help. But Apple Watches don’t do BP, so I use a machine most days for that.

Mariell I’ve had two bleeds on the brain, two years apart but didn’t need an operation. What is important is the physio therapy that should follow. Follow up in March this year was really superb, virtually non existent in 2019. Nursing staff I’ve had have been so good.

Badger, badger, badger. But do it kindly, please don’t shoot messengers.

We’re nowhere near Southend, though have fond memories of Sunday School outings there in the ‘50s! Our County has set up a hub system of support, which included finding carers. On the promise of confidentiality, you tell them what you want and where and they contact the local carers. In April this year no-one had staff available. No-one. But there are micro providers. Try local community FB group. Also we have a Community Transport Scheme, which as neither of us can drive has been useful.

And yes, our lives changed in an instant. I wish you all well, especially your Dad, OP. I wish you all well.

Start researching local home care private companies
ASAP

Thank you for replies. I’m only going by what my father said regarding the appointment with the GP and him wanting to have a carer twice a day.

Thank fully money is not an issue here so any private care can be arranged but only if they agree to it.

I don’t think my mother will be coming home and my father is recovering from his operation so we shall have to see what he wants when he is well enough to decide.

I struggle to understand why the GP wouldn't come out. They may not have been able to lift your father, but surely they needed to check whether he'd been injured or had an illness, was shocked or hypothermic? In fact, if they had come out and worked out that he appeared to have had a stroke it might well have speeded up the ambulance given the need to avert a bigger stroke.

my father is recovering from his operation so we shall have to see what he wants when he is well enough to decide

there will be some urgency to discharge your father so you may wish to research some options to discuss with him .He can't decide in the absence of information eg what is available ,how much it costs ,how long he may have to wait .
The hospital will discuss stuff with him but the involvement of a third party like yourself via phone or a visiting relative would help a great deal .