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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To tell you about my experiences with NHS emergency today.

102 replies

LEMmingaround · 25/01/2014 23:16

I went round to my mum's today to take her dog out as she wasn't feeling well yesterday. Got there to her laying in her own faeces and faeces all over the floor. She was not "with it" and barely responsive. She is prone to a life threatening condition called Addisons syndrome.

I called 999 and the lady asked me whole list of questions, not all of them relevant, but they have to rule everything out. All the while im on the phone im trying to make sure shes ok and clear up the worst of the mess with one hand. The lady said she was going to send an ambulance but would stay on the phone until they arrived. Which it did, five minutes laster.

Three paramedics turned up, one was a student. They attended to my mum and listened while i explained my mum's condition (its qutie rare) and started treatment based on what i had told her. They made no mention of the mess she was in, just got on with it. They took her out to the ambulance to start treatment and said i could run home (next road) to let my DP know and grab my phone. Her temperature was 40.5! Shock Got back, still in ambulance so i knocked on the door, they said they were still busy administering treatment and would come and get me - so i was able to get stuff cleaned up and look for my mum's nightclothes.

Bluelights all the way to the hospital, my mum not really with it, me in the pukey seat apparently as i felt sick as a dog, apparently lots of the paramedics get travel sick because of the movement of the ambulance and you can;t see where you are going. We chatted and i explained more about history etc.

Got the hospital and was ushered into the relatives room (bit odd as usually just go to the bit where you wait to see the doctor). My mum straight into emergency room - i could hear what was going on. She was seen by the doctor straight away and after about five minutes he came out to get more details from me. He then went off to look after her, popped back every now and then to update me and ask more questions. Turned out she probably not having addisons crisis but they were concerned re scepsis as her temp was so high and there were other indicators. So doctor stayed with us the whole time (about 2 hours in total) until she moved to CDU (inbetween ward). By this time she had had paracetemol to bring down temp (she can't have ibruprofen) a hydrocortisone drip, hartmans drip and potassium drip, IV antibiotics so was feeling better.

Diagnosed with chest infection, kept in on ABs and was due to go to main ward when i left. Dr kept popping back, came back with consultant who confirmed diagnosis. Oh, she had a chest Xray in this time too.

So that was that, no waiting for hours, my mother looked after the minute she got there, i was offered tea and somewhere comfortable to wait. Absolutely brilliant - i felt humbled really. Thats all, i just wanted to share a positive story about all the lovely people who helped me today.

OP posts:
StrawberryMoose · 26/01/2014 00:28

Thank you for taking the time to share this. ??

FlipFantasia · 26/01/2014 00:43

I'm so happy to hear it turned out well for your mum - may she make a speedy recovery!

And thanks for sharing a positive story. I moved from the UK to the US in 2012 and the NHS is amazing (I knew that anyway, since I'm from Ireland and it's much better than the Irish system!).

In the US, what happened to your mother could have cost you thousands depending on your insurance. I've met people who had to pay thousands for the ambulance alone. I've met people waiting years to have their second/subsequent babies because they're still paying off the thousands the first birth cost them. It's a crazy system and it's depressing to think that the biggest cause of personal bankruptcy in the US is health bills. Hopefully Obamacare is moving things in the right direction but it's still a stupidly complicated and expensive system.

I'm proud that I had both of my babies on the NHS (and received excellent care at a busy London teaching hospital). The NHS is one of the best things about Britain!

LRDtheFeministDragon · 26/01/2014 00:45

Well, I'm glad it was good but I hope you are both as ok as you can be under the circumstances. You must be feeling pretty shaky.

rabbitlady · 26/01/2014 06:59

that's lovely. hope your mum is soon fully recovered.

nhs saved my daughter's life when she gave birth and very nearly bled to death.

mother is currently in hospital. she's being very well cared for.

Pobblewhohasnotoes · 26/01/2014 07:05

Hope your mum recovers soon OP.

I'm a nurse too and it's lovely to hear a positive story, so thankyou.

ItStillLooksLikeRainDear · 26/01/2014 07:09

Hope your mum recovers quickly.
Lovely to hear positive stories about NHS. I agree with poster up thread, it is one of the best things about Britain.

flipflapdoodle · 26/01/2014 07:10

Thank you for sharing this.

Hope your mum is on the mend.

midnightagents · 26/01/2014 07:14

Yanbu. Speedy recovery to your mum!!

I hope you don't mind if I hijack with another positive NHs experience; My dd (probably aged 15 months then) was off colour and had a temperature, phoned NHs direct as a precaution, and whilst I wasn't that worried they advised I take her in to be on the safe side. It was late on Sunday so nearest facility wasn't our usual, and dr stayed behind late to see her. Given her temperature and tiredness he rang an ambulance for her to get to nearest hospital (we don't drive!), then followed behind in his care to make sure we got seen soon ShockShock

Staff at hospital were all lovely, but by this point she really was looking ill. She was sick and had a rash specialist we were currently seeing rushed her into icu with suspected meningitis. Further specialists rushed around her for a few minutes until one was sure that it could be ruled out. After it was ruled out doctor who had raised the suspicion personally came and apologised for "scaring us", after which ofc we couldn't thank him enough for taking us seriously and responding so quickly.

She was kept in for two nights under observation, and I was allowed to sleep next to her on a pull out bed. Whilst she was treated with antibiotics, neurofen and calpol. Turns out be a complicated bout of ear infection and tonsilitus. The whole team were amazing, couldn't rate them enough for how great they were! SmileSmile

I'm sure things go wrong sometimes, of course they do, but on the whole the NHs gets a bad rep for doing amazing things every day.

Thereistoomuchconfusion · 26/01/2014 07:19

This made me cry, it's hard as a nurse to hear the negative press all the time. Thank you for sharing your experience. I wish your mum all the best and for a speedy recovery.

Rooners · 26/01/2014 07:19

I'm so sorry LEM. Hope you had a bit of kip. I will PM you xxxx

ArthursaidMartha · 26/01/2014 07:44

Another one here who has had fantastic treatment in an emergency situation. I became unwell on holiday, when we returned dh took me to the hospital. I was triaged and taken through quite quickly to the cubicles. Lots of questions and a few blood tests later they diagnosed pancreatitis. The doctor explained what it was, how I would be treated.
I was admitted to cdu while they found a bed for me and gave me lovely drugs. There a consultant came to see me, scared me a bit by saying how ill I was Grin but I was reassured afterwards by a lovely nurse!
I was admitted to the ward where I was looked after for a week by a series of wonderful nurses (and one meanie, sorry!) and posted out the other end feeling vastly better.
I had no complaints with the way I was treated, I was kept clean, comfortable and cured!
I think the only problems I noticed were with not quite enough staff rather than the staff who were there not being great. The nurses seemed ridiculously busy but with it super efficient. I can't help wishing more money was being invested in nurses and less in politician's second homes etc .

ArthursaidMartha · 26/01/2014 07:47

LEM sorry, jumped on the NHS bandwagon so quickly I forgot to say, sorry your mum was so poorly but I'm really glad they have identified the problem and she's on the mend. And hats off for the great post Thanks Thanks

Misspixietrix · 26/01/2014 07:53

Lovely to hear a good story. Unfortunately I've had bad experiences with the NHS in the last couple of years. From them not taking my Dds illness seriously to A minor surgical procedure being made on DM last year which ended up in her being transferred miles away and specialist surgeons telling us our DM would be lucky if she made it of the operating table. Thankfully she did. I don't blame the Staff though. I blame the powers that be for putting far too much pressure on too little staff. I'm glad you're mum got seen quickly and that you had a very good doctor look after her who knew what to do straight away. Wishing your Mum a speedy recovery OP Flowers.

Misspixietrix · 26/01/2014 07:55

Oh gosh! I meant *your obviously. I'm still half asleep

RandomMess · 26/01/2014 07:57

Lovely to hear great stories. As has already been said my only complaint over the years is that there is clearly not enough lower grade staff on duty; it makes my blood boil for them.

How much is spent on management measuring targets, thinking up targerts and policies rather than on actual healthcare Sad

BeckAndCall · 26/01/2014 07:58

Thanks for sharing, LEM. How is your mum doing now? It must be a very worrying time for you. ( I know nothing of Addisons and whether this is a repeating pattern and therefore how worried you must be today, but whatever,nits awful seeing your loved ones in the that condition.)

Anomaly · 26/01/2014 08:05

Ive had three babies by section all involving 2 days in hospital. I've been to A&E at least a couple of times a year since having the kids 7 years ago. ive had numerous trips to the GP. I really can't fault the care I've received.

OP I hope your mum is on the mend soon. Thanks for reminding people how lucky we are to have the NHS.

OneHandFlapping · 26/01/2014 08:10

I'm so glad your mum is recovering well.

I have Addisons disease, and I keep emergency cortisone injections on me all the time. I'm also registered with the local ambulance service, with instructions to give me one of these injections under certain circumstances. I wonder if it would be an idea for your mum to do this?

OneHandFlapping · 26/01/2014 08:11

I'm so glad your mum is recovering well.

I have Addisons disease, and I keep emergency cortisone injections on me all the time. I'm also registered with the local ambulance service, with instructions to give me one of these injections under certain circumstances. I wonder if it would be an idea for your mum to do this?

YoniMatopoeia · 26/01/2014 08:11

Great to hear a positive story. Thank you for sharing.

I hope your mum is on the mend, and that you are not too shaken

PacificDogwood · 26/01/2014 08:22

Can I second the idea to let the ambulance service and A+E staff know also how happy you were when your mother is better? I am sure it would be much appreciated Thanks

Here's hoping for a good day for your mum today, and for you.

Iwannalaylikethisforever · 26/01/2014 08:22

Hope your Mum continues to improve
I like that you posted here
People are always quick to complain
What a refreshing change

RudolphtheRedknowsraindear · 26/01/2014 08:42

Thanks for your story OP, I hope your Mum is recovering well. Unfortunately, I have had 6 operations in the last few years & am waiting for another in a couple of weeks.
I've been helicoptered into A&E, ambulanced in & been a regular patient in orthopaedic & breast cancer clinics.
The treatment I have had has been amazing,from the porters to the main consultant surgeons.
I am so grateful to all the staff in the NHS, without them I wouldn't still be here!

LCHammer · 26/01/2014 08:53

The NHS Thanks

I hope your mum is feeling better.

Windmillsinthesand · 26/01/2014 09:15

DS3 was taken by ambulance from the doctors surgery ,straight into a cubical ,onto a nebulizer then taken to the paediatric assesment unit.On his second admission to hospital it was via 111 ,it worked really well no problems and every one we met was brilliant.

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