Tonight I waited an hour for an ambulance

[bloodywhitecat]

My lovely husband who has fought through so much in the last 18 months had a stroke. He can't speak. He has lost the use of his right hand side. He already has terminal cancer. I am scared this stroke isn't a stroke but is a brain met. Two weeks ago he was investigated for a DVT as his D-dimer was raised and he had calf pain. I am so scared and I am so angry at how he has been failed time and time again since he was first taken ill last spring. There is no point to this post. I just wanted to let it out somewhere.

Aww, bless you. I’m assuming he’s in hospital now? I hope he gets the care he needs. Take care of yourself too xx

I’m so sorry to hear how bad it has been for your husband, it must be so difficult for you. Anything I say will sound trite, but my heart goes out to you ❤️

He is but while they were updating me on the phone he managed to fall out of bed. (He couldn't stand at home) He has been rescanned to check for a bleed as the infusion they have given him carries a small risk of haemorrhage (and hitting your head from a fall increases that risk again). He still has no speech and is very confused.

How awful for you both. . Sending love and strength your way.

I know they’re overstretched etc etc but it doesn’t make it any more bearable when you’re let down so badly in a such a time-sensitive situation.

I am so sorry you had to wait. Austerity had screwed the NHS, and the pandemic has tipped it over the edge. The stories about ambulance waits are both distressing and frustrating. I hope he is now being assessed, and that you soon know more.

An hour wait for someone with a suspected stroke is completely unacceptable, no wonder you're angry. After all you've both been through. Sorry to hear this.

Oh no, I'm very sorry to hear that. Sending love

@GreenTeaPingPong

An hour wait for someone with a suspected stroke is completely unacceptable, no wonder you're angry. After all you've both been through. Sorry to hear this.

I agree, but at the moment A+Es are completely overrun. As is the ambulance service. I’m very worried for the NHS.

I agree, but at the moment A+Es are completely overrun. As is the ambulance service. I’m very worried for the NHS.

No buts. It is completely unacceptable and people need to get angry about this, not treat the NHS like a sacred cow that can't be criticised.

I know why it took so long now, it was an hour's drive away when he had his stroke. At 7.50pm on a Saturday night it is ludicrous that the nearest ambulance was almost 50 miles away, especially in time critical situations. It isn't the fault of the service but how the hell did we end up like this.

I'm so sorry op and that wait is completely unacceptable. You and your husband are in my thoughts

It doesn't surprise me. MIL was admitted a couple of weeks ago with cardiac issues, GP called the ambulance. 90 minutes wait for an ambulance then another 2 hour wait outside the hospital. When she got into a&e they had no pillows and were using rolled up blankets instead.

@countrygirl99

It doesn't surprise me. MIL was admitted a couple of weeks ago with cardiac issues, GP called the ambulance. 90 minutes wait for an ambulance then another 2 hour wait outside the hospital. When she got into a&e they had no pillows and were using rolled up blankets instead.

Luckily once he was there the stroke team were waiting. The crew were amazing, they assessed, scooped and ran. They are the reason he was seen inside the 4.5 hour window and started on treatment during that window.

@countrygirl99 for you and your MIL, the whole situation is just pants.

Bless you. I was coming to say that an hours wait wasn't too bad and then I read your full post. Your poor husband. I hope he is getting great care now. The situation with our NHS and ambulances is at breaking point. I was wondering thenother day when private ambulances are going to spring up for emergencies...."would you like to stay on the line to be transferred to the emergency services or press 1 for ambulances r us, press 2 for rapid response 2......" "Hello Rapid response ambulances can I take your long card number please......." - I know private ambulances already exist but they aren't used in this way.....
Yet.......I would set it up myself and make a fortune except I fundamentally believe in the NHS and it being accessible to all.....

Have you managed to get any info sense from the hospital, OP? I hope you and your little ones are ok

We're less than 5 mins from A&E and last night was completely nuts. We heard 5 ambulances between 10.30pm and midnight. Saturday there was 1 all night.

No buts. It is completely unacceptable and people need to get angry about this, not treat the NHS like a sacred cow that can't be criticised

Get angry at a goverment who have repeatedly underfunded the NHS every year.
Haven't invested in staff & infrastructure even tho population in most areas has grown rapidly over the last decade.

This is unacceptable, no one is denying that, but the buck stops with the government

This is unacceptable, no one is denying that, but the buck stops with the government

Or with the majority of this country that refuse to get involved in politics, don't vote, don't have an opinion but are outraged when there are no ambulances....

@PussyCatEatingPigsInBlankets

Have you managed to get any info sense from the hospital, OP? I hope you and your little ones are ok

We're less than 5 mins from A&E and last night was completely nuts. We heard 5 ambulances between 10.30pm and midnight. Saturday there was 1 all night.

I can't get through to the ward, it either rings out or is engaged. I am allowed to visit him though as he is palliative with a deterioration, the sister said I shouldn't have been denied visiting at all due to his prognosis.

@Mumdiva99

This is unacceptable, no one is denying that, but the buck stops with the government

Or with the majority of this country that refuse to get involved in politics, don't vote, don't have an opinion but are outraged when there are no ambulances....

Is that a direct criticism because in my delicate state of mind it feels like one. Watching my husband who has terminal cancer sink deeper into the stroke on Saturday was something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

Good.
Hold her to that. I hope you get to see him today if you can (I know it's not straightforward, I've read your prev threads).

Thinking of you and your lovely dh

Both what @Shitfuckcommaetc and also @Mumdiva99 said.

I am so sorry you are going through this OP
I am also sorry the Hospitals and ambulances and all those staff are having to try and cope without the resources they need to do their job. (Ditto police, again, which nobody has a clue about how ridiculously over stretched they are until they need them and then ditto school places for children with additional needs......etc etc.) Unfortunately, until they need them for their own family member, most people don't give it much thought.

@bloodywhitecat absolutely not a direct criticism and so sorry you read it that way. Just an ongoing frustration that so few want to get involved.
Your dh should have got an ambulance within minutes.

@Mumdiva99 Thank you, sorry for the misunderstanding. I am very fragile right now, I have been trying to call for an update since 8 this morning and it either rings out or I get the busy tone. He can't speak or use his phone to text so I have no other way of getting news. I don't know what else to do. I know they are short staffed but I don't know what else to do.