Waiting for an ambulance

[BigcatLittlecat]

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?

This is awful. I hope she gets an ambulance soon.

Do update them of new symptoms like chest pain etc but if no new symptoms are present at least not worrying ones then don't make them up to jump the queue. I feel like some of the posts here are possibly hinting at doing that? It will take an ambulance away from someone in more need.

The ambulance situation is absolutely on its knees.

Even the control rooms are incredibly short staffed because so many are off with stress and depression. It is an unenviable job. Unfortunately the short staffing won't get better until there's more staff (and ambulances). Probs not gonna happen anytime soon...

Your poor mum. But 12 hours wait outside in an ambulance is another reason why you shouldn’t try to move her yourself. You can’t have her lying on a shower curtain in a van with non medical staff. I do understand why people are suggesting this but it’s really not the answer.

2 pm she fell in the garden on the hottest day of the year.

10 pm the ambulance arrived.

11 pm we arrived at hospital and waited in the ambulance. Bloods were taken and her blood pressure was monitored.

10 am we were allowed into hospital into the A&E ward. No treatment was given.

3 pm she was taken to get a scan.

My mum waited 6 hours in the dirt in the garden with a dislocated hip. No way we could move her. The chaos that eventually came were so kind though. We consoled ourselves with the fact she was not in a life threatening condition and others clearly were. It was awful though.

all the best, I think you just have to wait, give her painkillers and keep her as warm and comfortable as possible.

Three weeks ago I suddenly experienced breathlessness and a very rapid heart rate.I suffer from COPD so thought I was having a flare up, when my inhalers failed o have any effect I knew I would have to get to hospital for nebuliser.I am also a retired nurse so I had a feeling something else was happening.I knew if I tried ringing for an ambulance it may be too late to get me to hospital so being alone in the house and knowing my son was at work I rang for a taxi.Taxi came in about 10 minutes by that time I was struggling to breathe, driver was very good and kept me talking during the merciful short drive to nearest hospital.
It turned out I had pulmonary emboli, which are blood clots in both of my lungs
I was extremely lucky as this condition caused the sudden death of my sister seven years ago.If I had waited for an ambulance I would not be typing this now.
Happy to say I am home now and fully recovered, having to take blood thinning tablets.
What is happening to this country?

I wouldn't try and move someone with a broken hip, just make your mum as comfortable as possible. With a broken hip I would imagine it will be a priority and she may need some air and gas/morphine to be moved/once in the ambulance. I had to call 111 for my DM a couple of weeks ago and after assessment the hcp ordered an ambulance and advised it should come within 2 hours (urgent but not emergency), we waited 12 hours for it to come but altogether from the time I called 111 until the ambulance arrived it was 20 hours.

My MiL regularly has falls due to age and dementia, my record has been 12 hours but normally between 4&6 hrs. Luckily we've only had one wait on arrival. Both hospitals we've been to have a separate a&e for ambulance.

If you suspect a broken hip don't move her as you could damage her groin, if I remember rightly there's an artery in that area.

Keep her topped up with water and paracetamol

I'm sorry this is happening to you both. My mum passed away 7 weeks ago, she was unwell anyway but detoriated and 999 was called as she couldn't go by car. They took 7 hours and the ambulance only came then after a paramedic car arrived and called again and said it was high priority. Hope help comes soon x

How is is this acceptable?? I’m so sorry. Shocking state of affairs.

My mum waited 6 hours for an ambulance in august, she had pneumonia and a collapsed lung and deteriorated so quickly despite ringing the ambulance service back a few times and being told she was a priority . She died not long after arriving at hospital. Unfortunately she was so unwell we couldn't move her to taker her ourselves.

It’s not acceptable in any way. But teh ambulances aren’t confined as they can’t unload at A&E as A&E can’t shift teh patients to the ward as the ward is full of medically stable patients who they can’t shift to care homes/organise carers and family can’t or don’t want to take them home and care for them. I want this to be shouted.

Hi OP, I hope the ambulance has arrived, but if it hasn’t, call back and make sure they have allocated her call to the the correct category.

Do not move her. I suspect the pain would be too much anyway.

Keep her warm, remember she'll feel the cold quicker than you, use cushions, pillows, duvets etc to support. Small sips of water, paracetamol and sadly wait.

My mum died in agony at home (aged 62) wating for the NHS to get their shit together.
You aren't their problem until you are inside the hospital.
Yes movement will be painful admittedly, probably a little less so with paramedics but painful non the less.
It doesn't matter whether readers like it or not the NHS are not responsible for you until you reach their care!
Complications of lying on the floor hours and hours are life threatening.

So sorry you're going through this. As a relatively young person of 53 I had a horrific bike accident that resulted in serious injury. A police van passing by stopped and was told 8 hours plus for an ambulance so they took me in themselves because I was haemorrhaging blood and couldn't wait. The system is broken. I wouldn't move her in these circumstances. Keep her warm and hydrated and painkillers? Im so sorry.

I was in a car crash with my toddler on Thursday. I was asked if the car was road worthy and could I drive myself to AnE. I wasn’t in a fit state to drive through the city but could navigate the short ride home. Thankfully they turned up after 2 hours. I hope your not waiting long

So sorry for you and your mum.
Have you got an electric blanket or electric throw? You could use that on a low temp to keep her warm. You could also use a puppy pad (or similar) next to her if she needs to urinate.

I'm so sorry OP. It's shit. Keep her warm and hydrated. Don't be afraid to call back if condition changes.

My husband broke his hip 4 weeks ago. It was fairly obvious to us that was the problem as all signs on NHS help pages were present. I called 999, was advised no ambulances were available at all for this problem and to look at the help pages on NHS (why was that even an option for a possible break - what can words do to help a break? Besides we had looked there first and I told them that) or contact GP. GP advised needed an ambulance. Called 111, was advised definitely not to try to move him myself, and very very luckily we got a St John’s ambulance. They were fab. They ventured the opinion that he had indeed broken his hip based on extreme pain, not able to bear weight etc and this was confirmed at hospital as a very severe break.

I hope and pray OP’s mother get transported and seen to quickly. But this is so shocking and upsetting. So whilst your mother was in the back of a ambulance others were also waiting, this is sickening. Government should be ashamed.

God absolutely shocking. Why is the NHS on its knees! It hasn't always been like this. It's absolutely disgusting, should not be allowed to happen!!
My mum has cancer, had terrible pain last week in the night (she's 8 weeks post surgery and been in and out of hospital). She rang for an ambulance, was told its a very long wait and to get a taxi to the hospital. I mean what has this country come to. There weren't any beds so she had to sit in a chair for 2 nights whilst receiving treatment. How is anyone supposed to get well whilst sitting in a chair, unable to sleep/rest.
I live in Switzerland. 2 nights ago I was woken up by the sound of my 2 year old wheezing badly. I thought he might have croup so we drove to pediatric A&E, walked into reception, no queue. Told the nurse I thought he had croup & within a few minutes of us arriving they gave him steroids. We arrived at 2.30am, saw 2 pediatric nurses, a doctor, and were home back in bed by 4am. That's a system that works. I've had to call an ambulance here before, once for my son when he was a baby and had a fit. Took 8 mins to arrive. We live 5 mins from the hospital.
Yes healthcare is private and everyone pays mandatory health insurance but my god if I was in the UK I'd rather pay health insurance and know I had a system that would take care of me. I know too many friends in the UK that have been failed by a broken NHS and too many lives lost needlessly. It needs to change.

In the meantime, painkillers and fluids. Also do call again. There is truth in the squeaky wheel gets oiled saying. I appreciate, like my husband, it probably not an immediate life or death situation, but can lead to sepsis or other complications if blood flow has been compromised.

Phone again and tell them about her chest pain, she'll immediately he upgraded

I do hope this is one thread the Daily Mail pick up.