Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Original poster

Waiting for an ambulance

216 replies

BigcatLittlecat · 08/10/2022 20:34

I called an ambulance for my elderly mother at 4.45. Got told it's a long wait and to not call back. She fell off her bed and think she has broken her hip. She's in a lot of pain. What can I do, apart from call 999 back?

OP posts:

Lu901 · 08/10/2022 20:36

I wish I could give advice. To be told not to call back I just don't understand that. She must be in so much pain I'm so sorry. I would call again it's been hours.

missbipolar · 08/10/2022 20:37

Unfortunately not alot- im assuming otc meds won't really help, the ambulance situation is dire ATM

QuestionableMouse · 08/10/2022 20:38

I'm so sorry you're going through this!

All you can do is keep her warm as possible, offer painkillers and small sips of drink. I'd avoid food in case she needs surgery. Record what time she took what as it can be hard to remember.

If you think she's getting worse, ring back and update them. I hope you're not waiting much longer!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Dementia & alzheimer's General health

FivePotatoesHigh · 08/10/2022 20:39

My dad had a fall on Friday and 111 advised getting a taxi as ambulance would take too long.

I hope she can get to hospital soon OP, I’m sorry.

missbipolar · 08/10/2022 20:39

@Lu901 your advised not to callback (unless the situation dramatically changes) because they can't give a time frame or speed things up (again that's unless things dramatically worsen)

Stripypopsicle · 08/10/2022 20:39

This happened to my dad. He told us he had chest pain after about 4 hours and we rung back. They turned up pretty quickly once we told them that.

FindingMeno · 08/10/2022 20:40

How awful to not even have an indication of how long you'll be waiting.
I'm sorry I don't know what can be done but I hope you have called family/ friends so you can have someone for support.

ladywithnomanors · 08/10/2022 20:41

If I were able to safely lift her into a car I’d take her myself if I were you.

lookslikeabombhitit · 08/10/2022 20:48

I had this with a relative on Sunday. Called for an ambulance at 2pm and was told there was an 11 hour wait. Triage nurse called me at 4pm and then escalated him to the highest priority which meant we would have an ambulance within the hour. I called again at 6pm as he was deteriorating and despite being "at the tops of the list" it didn't arrive until almost 8pm. It's absolutely broken.

As others have said- keep her warm, try and make her as comfortable as possible. Offer pain relief (paracetamol and ibuprofen if she can have them). Keep a close eye on her. Any signs of deterioration or increasing pain and call back and ask for triage. Please don't try and move her. If she has fractured her leg or hip you could make it far worse. X

Cantthinkofanewnameatm · 08/10/2022 20:49

I don’t think you’d be able to move someone safely ( and not too painfully) into a car.
As pp said, keep your mum warm, as comfortable as possible and write down painkillers taken etc…
I hope you’re not waiting too long.
( for context, about 7 years ago friend had a fall, phoned me, was going to stay where she was on a floor until her son finished a meeting, left work, drove 20 miles to her etc… I called 999 explained the situation, and that I wasn’t in the same county. Call was relayed half way across the country and ambulance arrived within about 45 minutes. Her pelvis was broken. How times have changed)

Isaidnoalready · 08/10/2022 20:50

Have you propped pillows around her to support her position? Not change it just support it try make her more comfortable

ChipsforMe · 08/10/2022 21:10

does she have
chest pain
breathing difficulties
drifting in and out

FuchsAndMöhr · 08/10/2022 21:16

Our country is broken 😢

I hope your mam is ok OP

lljkk · 08/10/2022 21:16

I'm not saying what OP should do.

If OP could move her mother into the car incurring an acceptable amount of pain (so yes presume painful but not so much that mother regretting being moved there), and could be strapped safely into car: would it be a bad thing for OP to take her mother like that to hospital?

Part I don't understand is how OP would get her mom into hospital upon arrival. Go bag for a trolley to fetch her in, maybe??

lljkk · 08/10/2022 21:17

*Go beg for ...

Littleone07 · 08/10/2022 21:27

I would find a way to take her to the hospital. Hospitals use slide sheets to move patients (almost like shower curtains, google the move). Do you know anyone with a van or camper van? Use a slide sheet to move her onto a rigid surface you can carry her on the van and take her to the hospital.

OnTheBrinkOfChange · 08/10/2022 21:30

The same thing happened to my mum. She waited eight hours for an ambulance to arrive and then we waited outside the hospital in the ambulance for 12 hours and then had another 5 hour wait once inside hospital. I wish I could say this would be outing but I'm afraid it wouldn't be as so many people are in this position.

Keep her warm. Put a towel underneath her and tell her she needs the toilet she just needs to go. My mum was very worried about that. Has she banged her head? That will make a difference to the time they arrive. I am so so sorry you are in the situation, it's absolutely shit.

Bridgeth29 · 08/10/2022 21:32

Please don't move her! This could make it a lot worse. Make sure she is warm and as comfortable as possible. I probably wouldn't be able to stop myself from calling back to check on a timeframe and also mention any new symptoms eg. Feeling cold, shortness of breath, pain spreading. Thinking of you.

(This is the reason I've posted on other threads saying how much I hate people calling ambulances for lifts to hospital. People like your mum need ambulances!!)

OnTheBrinkOfChange · 08/10/2022 21:32

Littleone07 · 08/10/2022 21:27

I don't think you realise how difficult that is to do without further hurting the patient. Have you ever tried lifting someone onto a sheet like that or lifting that sheet with the person on into a van and keeping it steady so that when they go round the corner she doesn't fall off? The chance of further damage is so much higher. Unfortunately it is safer to keep her at home.

bloodywhitecat · 08/10/2022 21:32

I hope they arrive soon, the system is indeed broken.

Vapeyvapevape · 08/10/2022 21:33

ladywithnomanors · 08/10/2022 20:41

If I were able to safely lift her into a car I’d take her myself if I were you.

Don't do this , if someone has a fractured hip , sitting them up or moving them can cause a lot more damage, it could even severe the femoral artery .

SockQueen · 08/10/2022 21:35

The service is just totally broken. It's devastating for everyone involved. Please write to your MP once this is all over. We have to keep telling them.

Vapeyvapevape · 08/10/2022 21:36

ladywithnomanors · 08/10/2022 20:41

If I were able to safely lift her into a car I’d take her myself if I were you.

This is a really bad idea, tempting I know, but could cause massive damage.

EmmaC78 · 08/10/2022 21:36

Your poor mum. This is what makes me despair when people call 999 for trivial reasons and then someone like your mum is left waiting. I hope they turn up soon.

GreenTeaPingPong · 08/10/2022 21:39

OnTheBrinkOfChange - She waited eight hours for an ambulance to arrive and then we waited outside the hospital in the ambulance for 12 hours and then had another 5 hour wait once inside hospital.

That is just shockingly awful. 12 hours in the ambulance? How horrible for your mother and what a stupid waste of the ambulance crew's whole shift.

Sorry you're having to deal with this OP.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Swipe left for the next trending thread