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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Transporting broken ankle long distances

130 replies

twatchops · 29/08/2017 21:25

Posting for traffic so apologies.
mother visiting. Severe ankle fracture requiring 3 hours surgery.
6 hour drive back to her home. AA are fortunately recovering her car.
Non weight bearing and using a frame. She can't come home to me due to stairs and toilet set up so needs to travel directly home. No ambulance/hosp transport available.
Physio suggesting leg up on back seat of car with wheelchair transfers to service station for toilet breaks.
Is this reasonable 4 days post surgery? Any helpful suggestions or recommendations for wheelchair hire?
She won't contemplate going on train with me which I think will be easier to manage.
Hosp keen for discharge ASAP.

HELP! Travel likely on Fri.
(And please feel free to send sympathies... it will be a long journey...)
Private ambulance unaffordable and taxi driver unlikely to be able to help her with toilet....

OP posts:
frogsoup · 30/08/2017 13:55

Barbarian but clearly the point here is that she is not medically fit to travel!

The health service struggling is not a reason for people to accept totally inappropriate attempts to cut costs at the expense of patients safety. It's not 10 mins down the road, it's a 6 hour journey! Chances of doing further damage are really pretty high.

OhTheRoses · 30/08/2017 14:00

But is she medically fit to travel. Have a Dr and OT assessed that to be the case? Out of interest OP, how much is the ambulance privately? How much would a mini cab firm charge in a 7 seater to effect this in comfort. How much would a 7 seater cost to hire and self drive?

Commode option?

They were a bit silly not to have travel insurance.

Malbecfan · 30/08/2017 14:54

I flew 60 hours after surgery where my ankle was pinned and plated after being broken in 3 places. However, as they knew I was flying home, they refused to put a full cast on and it was "back slabbed" where the cast came around 3/4 of the way round my leg but the front part was only bandaged. I was NWB and on crutches. The hardest part was getting into the plane until some very nice chaps carried me onto it (Flybe don't do airbridges!) The Captain was quite concerned about me until I explained about the back slab. He said he would reduce the cabin pressure slightly more than normal ("don't worry, nobody will notice") and asked the crew to keep an eye on me. When we got back to the airport near home, he stayed with me whilst all the other passengers cleared off, then carried my X-rays for me.

I went to the local hospital the following day for a full cast (who then promptly lost the X-rays but there you go!)

ItBroke · 30/08/2017 15:22

that's why everyone should have travel insurance...

Travel insurance wouldn't normally cover travel to a relatives house in the same country. It usually only covers booked accommodation such as a hotel.

chicklit71 · 30/08/2017 17:00

From my recent experience your mother should be okay to travel on the back seat of the car with her leg elevated along the seat. I had a similar thing happen to me. I am almost 70 and currently getting over a broken ankle that happened on holiday. I had an operation to pin my ankle in two places on the Wednesday and was released from hospital on the Friday to travel home. The physio at the hospital told me to sit with the affected leg elevated along the seat and the other down in the footwell at the back. This way I was able to put the seat belt on and I felt perfectly safe. My husband drove and we had a five hour journey. Not the best journey I have undertaken but it was bearable with painkillers and I was so glad to he home that I soon forgot about it. Five weeks on I am still non weight bearing but I'm getting there, due another check up next week.

Good luck with your mom.

Original poster
twatchops · 30/08/2017 21:15

Chick lit, that's really helpful.
We're going with this arrangement (minus the child seat of course)

Transporting broken ankle long distances
OP posts:
ItBroke · 30/08/2017 21:43

I'm sure you've probably already thought of it but if no one is sitting in the front passenger seat then you could take off the headrest to give a little better vision.

StarUtopia · 30/08/2017 22:41

Please do have another think about how she is going to cope at home on her own (albeit with your 80yr old Dad)

Don't underestimate the emotional turmoil she will also be going through. I was a mess after breaking my leg and I'm only 42! I found it incredibly stressful (and painful) to go to the toilet or to simply move from room to room. Technically, I thought i had a lot of people who were friends/could count on - you know what, VERY few of them actually rocked up to help. I felt very isolated and alone.

Unless you have ever actually broken your leg (or similar) you don't realise just how debilitating is it in the first few weeks especially. Those injections are also horrid. All just compounds. Pretty sure looking back I had some kind of post accident traumatic stress.

I'm quite worried for your mum if I'm honest [sad}

Original poster
twatchops · 31/08/2017 09:59

I know me too. The reality is that her home is fantastically set up for this (all on the flat with ramps etc) they have borrowed a wheelchair and OT have already delivered all the equipment to her house. I cannot stay with them. I can't get time off work and I have a small child. My brother may be able to go over for a few days.
I'm hoping this makes them think about moving nearer to be honest.

OP posts:
Original poster
twatchops · 31/08/2017 10:01

My Dad is an excellent cook (and I mean excellent) and perfectly capable of using the washing machine. They will do online shopping and he can walk to the shops for the other bits they might need. They have enough money to get taxis to and from hospital appts. The hospital is 40 mins away.

OP posts:
randomuntrainedcuntowner · 31/08/2017 10:12

Refuse to take her, and refuse to have her back at yours, and hospital will have to provide transport. Ask to speak to discharge coordinator.

halcyondays · 31/08/2017 14:04

I shouldn't think travel insurance would cover transporting someome from hospital within the UK. They send people home from hospitals in ambulances all the time if there is noone to take them and they can't reasonably travel alone.

halcyondays · 31/08/2017 14:05

Just tell them you aren't able to provide transport.

Titanz · 31/08/2017 14:16

What you mean is, they've realised that your DM has a relative nearby.

Yeah thats how it works. We cant offer transport to everyone who wants it so if there's family available thats the option we have to take. Most post op hip and knees go home in a car.

When my mother broke her hip, the hospital wanted me to give her daily injections. I was shocked and refused and wouldn't let them discharge her to me. Suddenly the District Nurse was available to give her the injections!
Whats so shocking about that? The district nurse is available if family or the patient refuse. They didn't suddenly become available, it's just the norm to ask family first since services are stretched and most folk can manage to inject themselves once a day saving the visits for those who need more advanced nursing care they can't possibly do on their own. Each visit costs the NHS around £30.

Titanz · 31/08/2017 14:18

Barbarian but clearly the point here is that she is not medically fit to travel!

Yes she is. With difficulty yes, but she is still medically fit.

Original poster
twatchops · 31/08/2017 14:21

I agree, technically she is medically fit but the journey will be difficult for her hence asking for advice. Home is by far the best place and her house is completely suitable. My house is not. I've picked up the wheelchair and we're setting off tomorrow - God help us...

OP posts:
Titanz · 31/08/2017 14:22

Good luck twatchops. Just make sure she's taking her pain relief regularly even if she doesn't feel she needs it. Have they given her any fragmin (anti-coag) injections btw?

Original poster
twatchops · 31/08/2017 17:35

Yes 6 weeks worth....

OP posts:
KiteSky · 01/09/2017 09:05

Good luck for today OP. You are a very lovely daughter!

Severide08 · 01/09/2017 10:42

First time here for me on mn .I broke my ankle badly last year also had surgery,was off work for quite a while.Good luck with the journey,it is a horrible break ,I wish her well with her recovery .A good tip I was given was to ice the area before you inject the anti colag takes that nasty sting away that comes with it .I couldn't face doing it myself,my DH or DS did it for me .It knocks you about more than you realise,I am in my 40's and a tough cookie but it really knocked me for six it is a an injury that happens in the blink of an eye so to speak .You sound a fantastic daughter ,your mum sounds in good hands.

Original poster
twatchops · 01/09/2017 18:32

All done. 6 hrs 30 door to door with 2 toilet stops!
She did amazingly! No moaning apart from about my choice in radio station!
I did an M&S packed lunch and put it in a cool bag for her in the back and put some drinks/sweets in the back seat pocket.

My dad has sorted the house, installed all the OT equipment and been out and bought her an emergency button necklace thing!

He's in the process of ordering a take away (which I guess I will be collecting in the car!)

Thanks everyone. There were some excellent suggestions on here that def helped! Plus I had an offer of a wheelchair friendly house to stop at.
Mumsnet at its best! Smile

Now for Wine and a drive back tomorrow.

OP posts:
Rosieposy4 · 01/09/2017 18:49

Well done twatchops, you and your mum are both stars. Bet she is really pleased to be home.

OhTheRoses · 01/09/2017 19:37

Well done. Enjoy your wine Wine. You deserve it x

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 01/09/2017 19:44

Make sure there's something under her knee to support it. Hope it goes well Flowers

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 01/09/2017 19:44

Sorry,did t read your update. Phew, what a relief !