To think this was a gross misuse of the emergency services

[retainertrainer]

DSis phoned me this morning. I missed the call as I was in work. I couldn’t talk but was able to send her a text asking if she was ok (she knew I was working so I thought something must be wrong for her to ring). She messed back saying she’d fallen down the stairs and couldn’t get up. I obviously called her straight back. She was crying but calmed down enough to explain that she’d actually missed the bottom step and landed at an awkward angle,her ankle was in a lot of pain. In the time it’d taken me to ring her back she’d also called 999 for an ambulance,her DP and our Dad (who lives a street away). By the end of our phone call her partner had arrived home and my Dad followed shortly.

The 3 of them then sat and waited 30 minutes for an ambulance. They all drive, 3 cars were at the house. No attempt made to get sis on her feet and into the car. They could have been to a&e themselves in 15! I understand she panicked when it first happened and for all she knew it could have been broken but for none of them to even attempt to get her on her feet and drive her themselves astounds me! Turns out it’s a bad sprain. I’m so cross with them all!

And this is why this country is on its bloody knees.

Two grown men couldn't help her to the car and then get a wheelchair when they got to A&E?

And so many people on here defending their decision.

Disgraceful waste of nhs resources. Have broken my ankle and torn ligaments. On both occasions DH took me to hospital. If he hadn't been around I'd have asked a friend. Never in a million years would it have occurred to me to call an ambulance.

And this is why this country is on its bloody knees.

Stop being so bloody melodramatic. Its not unreasonable to call an ambulance for a suspected broken bone. The ones who you should be complaining about are the frequent callers who have nothing wrong with them the prank callers and those using it as a taxi service.

When I broke my leg at home, DH put 4 DC back in the car, got me to the car and then dropped me at A+E in a wheelchair. Never occurred to either of us to call an ambulance.

IME the usually send out a paramedic in these circumstances to offer triage before sending an ambulance. The paramedic then makes the call as to whether a full ambulance service is required. Happened to me when I landed badly and hurt my knee and couldn't walk.

Paramedic turned up, did his thing and called for an ambulance. I couldn't walk but I wasn't dying.

OTOH two years ago my DP drove me to the gp who insisted I visit the hospital and I emended up going into septic shock from a uti and remaining in hospital for a week. If you're not medically trained, you're probably not qualified to make a call and she had sufficient reason to worry that it might be broken. And I've broken bones too and my knee damage was far worse, which has resulted in the need to a knee replacement. It's not always black and white.

I have seen a broken femur (am a vet), even one sticking through the skin. Animal still has to be moved, as no orthopaedic surgeon is going to rock up to operate, take radiographs and pin bones in your living room.
I will concede that if there was a really bad break and the person was in horrible pain, it might be kinder to request an ambulance so paramedics could give pain relief (nitrous) before moving.
My dad came off his motorbike, broke his ankle and several ribs, and I drove 20 miles to pick him up and take him to hospital- never even crossed my mind to call an ambulance!

Having watched the recent Ambulance series on BBC1, I'm horrified what crews get held up dealing with. They aren't a branch of the social care system. Our neighbour had a heart attack last week, and there were 2 crews here helping stabilise them for a transfer. It was deeply upsetting but a bloody relief that they weren't running someone with a sprain into A & E.........

Oh, and it was a complicated break including a dislocation. But I wasn’t going to die from it and I got to A+E substantially quicker than if I had waited for 999. (Live in rural area)

Wow, some people really are 999 happy! Even if it WAS broken, that's STILL not a 999, matter for fuck's sake. I'm with you @retainertrainer - unacceptable for your sister + the other drivers not to take some responsibility themselves.

I had a nasty fall when I was 200 miles away from home, at the station. I insisted on travelling home (station first aider wanted me to go to hospital there). I called ahead and was met at my home station by a friend and a railway porter with a wheelchair. Got me into the car and trundled off to A&E as it was severe pain and had absolutely ballooned, despite being elevated and iced the whole train ride home.

In the end, it was quite a nasty injury and it has given me lasting cosmetic issues and some internal discomfort, But for fuck's sake, I didn't dream of calling 999 at any stage whatsoever.

I think it is so sad how your austerity measures in the uk have got you all squabbling over whether or not an injured woman should ask for assistance from your medical services. In Australia we pay a small premium on our tax to cover our ambulance service. Our system is in da ger too, but it ain't broken like yours. The problem isn't that overly entitled people dare to use the health system, it's that your government has systematically drained it of neccesary resources whilst privileging multinationals and whatnot. Your anger is misplaced. Your sister was NBU.

YANBU. If they'd tried to get her up and hop her to the car and it proved impossible or there was something visibly wrong with the foot then maybe, but to just sit there and wait is ridiculous.

There wouldn't have been someone in more urgent need left waiting, that's the whole point of triage.

@BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot Its not unreasonable to call an ambulance for a suspected broken bone

It absolutely IS unreasonable. Two other grown adults who could carry her to a car, drive her to a GP or hospital front door for the non urgent treatment it called for. Ridiculous waste of resource.

And there are some serious martyrs on here!!

Don't get me wrong I've driven DH to hospital when he had appendicitis, driven a dc with a broken bone, and driven another with an asthma attack before so I'm not 999 happy (got told off by a&e for not calling an ambulance for each one mind!!) All I'm saying is the OP sister had a legitamite reason to call for help.

Unless her ankle was falling about like a jellyfish she coukd easily have been carried to car. No damage would have been done. A homemade splint could have helped too.
People are becoming helpless these days.

If it was a broken neck or back, you wouldn't move her, but an ankle is fine.

I too have fallen, and broke my arm in two places. I have two young dc. I called a taxi and they took me to A&E. No big deal.

I would not call an ambulance unless I had a heart attack or similar.

If everyone called an ambulance for a break or sprain the NHS would sink overnight. I agree whole heartedly with you op.

If you are a pensioner or vulnerable that is different but why can't adults simply sort themselves out.

Yabu - she fell and was frightened and in pain
Post again when your sibling goes to A&E with a sore eyelid

There wouldn't have been someone in more urgent need left waiting, that's the whole point of triage.

Not prior to the ambulance getting there bit once they are on scene then that's an ambulance taken out of action until the job is completed whichbinlcudes handover at the hospital.

My sister spends half her time on jobs like this. She's been to jobs with rooms full of car drivers and it never occurs to anyone to just drive to the hospital.

And it's a pain if a&e is busy. She sow t over an hour the other day in a queue of other ambulances waiting to hand over a broken finger.

I have been told by my gp that if I get a uti again that I must phone for an ambulance. And first aid training states to basically keep people safe and warm until someone comes along who actually knows what they are doing.

This comes to mind...

She sounds like a drama queen! Missing the bottom step does not equal falling down the stairs and your DF and her DP could have easily got her to the car and taken her to hospital themselves. She hurt her ankle not her back or neck.

When my 4 year old broke his leg I was told an ambulance would be a couple of hours as they were really busy (probably with idiots like your sister) and we should try to make our own way to A&E despite the fact that his leg was already turning black and blue and he was crying with the pain.

Yes but if they have someone who's life is in immediate danger then they're (hopefully) going to send an ambulance to them before sending it to somebody who's had a fall.

liminality We do pay taxes to fund our healthcare. The government has increased taxation on everyday folk, given tax relief to the very rich and is deliberately underfunding our health and welfare services.
That's why we're angry at little princesses wasting already scant resources and further depriving those in genuine need.

Yes @halcyondays that was my point. The triage paramedic made the decision based on his medical knowledge.

@BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot lol!

Breaks, sprains and bruises can all result in death or serious life limiting injuries depending on their severity and their effect of surrounding nerves and tissue. This is why paramedic assessors are there to determine whether the cost of an ambulance is viable. Seems like a martyrdom competition on here!