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Original poster

45 minutes for an ambulance

128 replies

chaddydays · 14/12/2022 14:56

To take a child with suspected meningitis/sepsis to hospital.

A child (baby!) of 10 months. Rash that won't fade under pressure. High temp and vomiting, light sensitivity

Just awful. My friend from across the road ran to me in desperation as I'm a carer for my son so she knew I'd be in

My bloody car was in for a service and I couldn't help her, couldn't take her. Taxi was going to be same time as ambulance so we booked it and it arrived at same time as the ambulance (we did it to see who's get there first and she'd take that option)

Disgusting. This is what this country has come to. What a disgrace.

2 weeks on and that baby girl still hasn't recovered much and is very unwell. My friend is wanting to go public with the story but worried about attaching her face to it

OP posts:
vodkaredbullgirl · 14/12/2022 15:06

In an ideal world it shouldn't happen, having to wait for an ambulance. 45 mins is better than hours.

Whiskers4 · 14/12/2022 15:07

Sadly, its nothing new. GP told my DM to phone for an ambulance for my DF. 90 mins later it was cancelled as too late. That was a good few years ago.

Thekormachameleon · 14/12/2022 15:09

Honestly? 45 mins for a c2 ambulance is pretty good. There have been waits of 7/8 hours recently

Original poster
chaddydays · 14/12/2022 15:09

vodkaredbullgirl · 14/12/2022 15:06

In an ideal world it shouldn't happen, having to wait for an ambulance. 45 mins is better than hours.

It probably means the outcome between limb amputation and having her leg saved. 'Better than nothing' is unacceptable and not good enough, not even close

The only step up would be death or coma. And she was purely lucky to not have that happen

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 14/12/2022 15:09

It's not acceptable, but it is what it is at the moment.

curiositydoll · 14/12/2022 15:09

45 minutes is pretty quick these days!

My family member was told 8-10 hour wait for a heart attack. They ended up having a child call a taxi for them.

DenholmElliot11 · 14/12/2022 15:10

This is why they are striking. Because people are dying.

MyFuckRationsAreDepleated · 14/12/2022 15:12

12 years of Tories.

Reugny · 14/12/2022 15:18

If ambulances cannot offload their patients to hospitals as there are no beds and not enough staff then they can't attend their next case.

If hospitals can't discharge patients as there is no social care then they can't take more patients in from ambulances.

If there is no carers to help patients who are elderly and/or disabled in their homes or care homes, then patients cannot safely be discharged from hospital.

DenholmElliot11 · 14/12/2022 15:20

Reugny · 14/12/2022 15:18

If ambulances cannot offload their patients to hospitals as there are no beds and not enough staff then they can't attend their next case.

If hospitals can't discharge patients as there is no social care then they can't take more patients in from ambulances.

If there is no carers to help patients who are elderly and/or disabled in their homes or care homes, then patients cannot safely be discharged from hospital.

Yep! It all comes back to there not being enough home carers.

Chisquared · 14/12/2022 15:22

No, it's not acceptable. But neither are the years and years of underfunding by the Tories. Public healthcare is on it's knees, emergency services staff work under the most unacceptable pressure. Be angry, but be angry at the right people.

Original poster
chaddydays · 14/12/2022 15:23

If hospitals can't discharge patients as there is no social care then they can't take more patients in from ambulances.

If there is no carers to help patients who are elderly and/or disabled in their homes or care homes, then patients cannot safely be discharged from hospital.

But this is paediatrics? So usual issues of nobody at home or available to check on elderly/disabled person doesn't apply here much. It's a Paedatric setting

OP posts:
Newuser82 · 14/12/2022 15:24

DenholmElliot11 · 14/12/2022 15:10

This is why they are striking. Because people are dying.

Yes!!

Rowthe · 14/12/2022 15:24

chaddydays · 14/12/2022 15:23

If hospitals can't discharge patients as there is no social care then they can't take more patients in from ambulances.

If there is no carers to help patients who are elderly and/or disabled in their homes or care homes, then patients cannot safely be discharged from hospital.

But this is paediatrics? So usual issues of nobody at home or available to check on elderly/disabled person doesn't apply here much. It's a Paedatric setting

But the ambulances could be full of adults. So cant get the kids.

Chisquared · 14/12/2022 15:25

chaddydays · 14/12/2022 15:23

If hospitals can't discharge patients as there is no social care then they can't take more patients in from ambulances.

If there is no carers to help patients who are elderly and/or disabled in their homes or care homes, then patients cannot safely be discharged from hospital.

But this is paediatrics? So usual issues of nobody at home or available to check on elderly/disabled person doesn't apply here much. It's a Paedatric setting

And this is why ambulances are not available - they are queuing to get into A&E, A&E are full because there are no beds on wards, wards are full because.....and so it goes on

OatFox · 14/12/2022 15:25

My friend's mum waited 2 days for necrotising flesh. She had to have surgery immediately.

Whatnextarghhhhhh · 14/12/2022 15:26

chaddydays · 14/12/2022 15:23

If hospitals can't discharge patients as there is no social care then they can't take more patients in from ambulances.

If there is no carers to help patients who are elderly and/or disabled in their homes or care homes, then patients cannot safely be discharged from hospital.

But this is paediatrics? So usual issues of nobody at home or available to check on elderly/disabled person doesn't apply here much. It's a Paedatric setting

I don’t think that makes any difference to the ambulance. I don’t think there are paediatric ambulances.

Rowthe · 14/12/2022 15:26

They are saying the ambulances are lined up outside the A and E waiting to admit their patients. It doesnt matter if the Paeds wards is empty if all the A and E is full and cant accept any new patients.
The ambulances have to sit and wait for hours for the patient to be admitted and cant go to the next job.

SpideyCraw · 14/12/2022 15:26

chaddydays · 14/12/2022 15:23

If hospitals can't discharge patients as there is no social care then they can't take more patients in from ambulances.

If there is no carers to help patients who are elderly and/or disabled in their homes or care homes, then patients cannot safely be discharged from hospital.

But this is paediatrics? So usual issues of nobody at home or available to check on elderly/disabled person doesn't apply here much. It's a Paedatric setting

I don’t think there are separate paediatric ambulances, so this child would have had to wait because ambulances carrying adults were unable to offload them into hospital.

I'm sorry that she had to wait and hope she makes a full recovery

Original poster
chaddydays · 14/12/2022 15:26

OatFox · 14/12/2022 15:25

My friend's mum waited 2 days for necrotising flesh. She had to have surgery immediately.

So sorry, hope she's okay Flowers

OP posts:
LlynTegid · 14/12/2022 15:26

Don't forget when the Tories come looking for your vote.

gogohmm · 14/12/2022 15:26

The advice always has been to drive to the hospital if safe to do so, I know you couldn't drive her but surely another neighbour could have helped? I've driven neighbours to hospital 3 times over the years

BrewandBiscuit · 14/12/2022 15:27

Agree not acceptable, but if that had been my baby, I’d have been knocking on all my neighbours doors asking for a lift to hospital. I absolutely wouldn’t have waited 45 minutes (although in this day, it’s not all that long).

I hope the baby recovers

vodkaredbullgirl · 14/12/2022 15:27

I had to wait with a resident, who had a broken hip for over 18 hours.

Chocbuttonsandredwine · 14/12/2022 15:28

Friend had stroke and we were told up to an hour for ambulance. Ended up driving.

Sasly I can see a point in the future where ambulances attend with police/fire brigade an that’s it. If you fall ill at home you need to make your own way

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