To ask advice as my parents have been waiting for three hours for an ambulance

[haveyourselfamerry]

They are 500 miles away in Bournemouth. Dad is 80 and frail with poor visual processing and probable autism.
A little over three hours ago dad fell in the sitting room. Mum got him into a propped up position. It hurts behind his left hip.
The history is that he fell last February and broke his hip. He was stuck in hospital waiting for a fictitious rehab place for 10 weeks, as a result of which his gait has permanently altered.
They are hoping this is not another break as it feels less bad than last time.
Obviously though they are getting increasingly uncomfortable and distressed.
He will fall asleep soon. Mum is wondering if she can get him lying down. She is too fail to stop him dropping off/sliding over.
Thanks in advance :(
Old age s not for sissies.

If you ring 999 from where you are, won't you be put through to your own region?

I'm in Bournemouth, do you need some practical help right now? My dp is a first aider and we are very happy and willing to help your parents.

My lovely neighbour waited a similar time recently after a fall, she's 91. Sadly the NHS is completely underfunded and there aren't enough ambulances out there.

Please pm me if you want us to go round. I promise we are normal people who only have their best interests at heart.

oh bugger have had wine otherwise I would have gone

You need to get someone around.
At the very least to make sure he is warm enough and DM is ok.

Maybe sit with them as well.
Rack your brains, is there no one?

Oh yes she will, didn't think of that . Other option then is the Out of Hours GP service as that will be a local number to ring. We had a paramedic out pretty quickly to Mum after a funny turn once I'd got to actually speak to a GP.

So sorry OP. The NHS is a fucking disgrace, 3 hours for a possible break at 80 yo 
*

• No, the Torres are the fucking disgrace.

Tories. Not Torres, although he was quite bad.

MycatsaPirate

Thanks Pirate! I believe you but mum won't IYSWIM x

Do you know why he fell? Was it a slip/trip/stumble rather than something causing him to lose his balance/faint/pass out?

If it doesn't feel like a break, would be be able to move with support? How frail is he? If a chair was put in front of him, would he be able to get up onto all fours, with his arms on the chair seat and his knees on the floor, or is he in too much pain? Could he get up that way?

Good idea re out of hours service.

Phone their local hospital's a&e department and explain. As for the ambulance control room's number, call them and explain. Your dad is an emergency and this has gone on for long enough. Can you start driving to them. You could be there by 4.30 if you can.

No problem op, I hope that the medics turn up soon. You can get your mum to call her GP surgery or 999 again to see if they can send a first responder.

Of course, it would be immoral for your mum to mention your dad's chest pains when she calls back, he'd be pushing in in front of all the poor drunks.

Hi lougle, we used to know each other on SN.(Langley)

I agree with pp who suggested a new thread asking for help in B'mth.

I'm about 30 mins away but have had wine but there must be plenty of other MNers who are closer.

She musn't move him. Ring again and see if a paramedic car can go out. They usually triage my DD before an ambulance comes. I agree you should ring and mention sleepiness.

Very difficult for you. Do their local hospital have a specialist falls service that should be looking after him? My neighbour has an elderly mum who falls a lot and there is a special unit which comes out to her, rather than a regular emergency ambulance. Can you try phoning their local hospital and see if there is anything they could do?

Lingle

Can you get there? I know it's a heck of a way but if you can I'm sure they will need you around for a few days regardless.

Not Langley!

Phone OOH and ask if they can send a doctor to him to check him over before the ambulance gets there

Phoning the local A+E is pointless, they are two separate NHS trusts. The hospital does not dispatch ambulances.

OP, dial 999, give their address and raise your concerns (and say he is becoming drowsy).
Despite being differing trusts your call will be passed to SCAS. Trust me on this, I know

She needs to ring again. And again 30 mins later if necessary.

Lougle, he has poor mobility and visual processing (impaired brain function).
He tried to walk whilst putting on an item of clothing. Just too much for his balance+processing.
Mum doesn't think there has been any new "event" IYSWIM.
I was there at Christmas and witnessed these multitasking problems.