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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

ambulance...poss broken ankle... wtf

94 replies

ghostspirit · 03/03/2015 16:33

omg was on my way home from work. daughter calls to say she has hurt ankle she thinks it might be broken. her boyfriend has called an ambulance.... i started ranting at her that you do not call an ambulance for things like that. then she told me she was told they won't send her an ambulance for that reason... i told her to rest her foot wait till i get in and i will get her a cab... the her boyfriends mum rings her and asks her why shes not getting an ambulance... daughter says for some weird reason they wont send one. i can sort of forgive daughter for thinking they would. but then for her bf mum to ring and question why not... wtf....

OP posts:

Seriouslyffs · 03/03/2015 16:45

Try and stay calm about the whole situation. It sounds as if lots of people are rather panicked- don't add to the drama.

NeedABumChange · 03/03/2015 16:50

YANBU a hurt ankle or indeed a broken legions not require an ambulance!

PtolemysNeedle · 03/03/2015 16:53

BFs mum is probably one of the many people that is an unnecessary drain on the NHS. She's probably also a little bit thick.

5Foot5 · 03/03/2015 17:31

I think it depends on the circumstances doesn't it? Wouldn't a really bad break require some first aid at the scene before the casualty was moved?

No expert here I admit. Years ago a friend broke her ankle in Dove Dale. She couldn't walk on it and it was too far to carry her. Nor was it possible to get an ordinary vehicle to her but a 4WD ambulance was sent out for her.

ahbollocks · 03/03/2015 17:33

If its a compound fracture then I can full well understand an ambulance. Can you pay a taxi company over the phone to take her to a and e?

OhFlippityBolax · 03/03/2015 17:34

Sorry but yabu here

If it's a nasty break or even a severe sprain/torn ligaments chances are she'll need some pain relief and on the ambulance they can give her entinox

OhFlippityBolax · 03/03/2015 17:35

Also I think ranting at someone in pain and needing their mums sympathetic ear is really not on

Aridane · 03/03/2015 17:41

YABU for ranting at your daughter in pain

Aridane · 03/03/2015 17:41

Cross post

SweetValentine · 03/03/2015 17:42

Yanbu but i did drive DH 40 mins to nearest hospital and expect him to hop down the multi story car park on what turned out to be a very serious broken foot that required 10 days in hospital and an operation

PacificDogwood · 03/03/2015 17:44

How about a taxi??

An ambulance would of course take her to hospital if she had no other way of getting there.
All seems to be a bit of drama tbh.
Hope she is ok.

Idontseeanysontarans · 03/03/2015 17:46

Hang on your daughter was in pain, probably panicking, her first thought was to get some medical help and you immediately ranted at her?
The rights and wrongs of calling out an ambulance for a potentially broken bone aside that didn't come over well at all. Have you given her any practical help or sympathy at all and just didn't put it in your OP?

Idontseeanysontarans · 03/03/2015 17:49

Apologies I re read your OP and I see you offered to get her a cab. Sorry
Still not seeing much sympathy for her though.

RedButtonhole · 03/03/2015 17:50

I'd be more concerned about the fact my daughter was badly injured and in pain than I would about ranting at her whether she needs an ambulance or not.

I understand it may not have been necessary to send an ambulance for a broken ankle, and she should be aware of that but in the circumstances I think it was just as twattish to rant at her as it was for bf's mum to question it.

KatieKaye · 03/03/2015 17:53

I broke my ankle and dislocated it just by falling over and was taken to hospital in an ambulance. Amputation was considered but they managed to save my foot
Twenty years on I have a lot of pain and 20% movement.

A broken ankle can be very serious.

spiderlight · 03/03/2015 18:00

When my DH broke his ankle he struggled to hospital in a taxi (with a hideously unhelpful driver) and was told off for not calling an ambulance.

Anomymousmum123 · 03/03/2015 18:03

Hmmmm think it depends on type of break, I was always told for a (compound break (i think that's what it's called) basically I clean break straight thrown that will require a op to pin then you should call a ambulance because of the type if break and the pain!

I had to call one back in the summer for a 4 year old who broke her arm in my garden and it was clear it was a clean break and she was in so much pain..... The ambulance was sent no question and she was immediately put on mophine befire they even left

IreneA78 · 03/03/2015 18:06

It depends entirely on the circumstances.I think in your DDs case an ambulance was probably unnecessary

GlitzAndGigglesx · 03/03/2015 18:06

My friend phoned the non emergency line for this who sent her an ambulance because she couldn't physically stand to get into a cab. Some cab drivers can be right pricks too if you're in pain

MaidOfStars · 03/03/2015 18:12

OP, did you expect to be congratulated on your Don't Drain The NHS stance?

ObsidianEagle · 03/03/2015 18:14

really, your dd's in pain and your first thought is to 'rant' at her?

so nice of you. i think thats a conversation that could have waited until later, dont you?

crapatmultitasking · 03/03/2015 18:16

Depends really - A broken ankle can be serious and leave a patient with long term problems and the possibility of amputation especially if blood flow to the limb is restricted.

What would you expect someone with a potential broken limb and no relative to take them to hospital to do,hop on a bus ? risk further complications and drain more NHS resources ?

Adult DS phoned me at work (NHS) and I could tell by the tone of his voice he was in shock, whimpering that he thought he'd broken his arm - luckily DP was able to drive him to A & E but had he not been available I would have told him to call an ambulance as there was no was he could have or should have caught 2 buses to A&E - this was confirmed by the very experienced Doctors I was working with at the time.

IreneA78 · 03/03/2015 18:19

It depends entirely on the circumstances.I think in your DDs case an ambulance was probably unnecessary

Can I just qualify my earlier statement (above) by saying if you can't immobilise the joint and have it properly supported in the cab, she needs an ambulance .Or of she seems to be slipping into shock you need to ring 999

ginnybag · 03/03/2015 18:22

Presumably, OP is basing the 'not needing ambulance' status on the fact that her DD has managed to have several conversations with several people.

Assuming these are the coherent, measured complaints they sound - full sentences, not panting, rational speech, not hysterical for lengthy periods - then saying 'no ambulance' is completely reasonable.

There's a tendency to think serious means emergency. Something can be very serious in the long run, needing complex treatment, without being urgent. In these cases, unless there's another reason to access that fast service, an ambulance isn't really appropriate, if there's another option.

A suspected break is a good example. If there was no impact to potentially need spinal stabilisation, no open wound, no loss of consciousness, no severe pain... then, there's not much gained from an ambulance attending, so why take one out of service?

NeedAScarfForMyGiraffe · 03/03/2015 18:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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