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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Taxi to A&E

124 replies

PartyPie · 20/11/2018 20:49

I'm 7 months pregnant and this evening I fell down the stairs, I hit my head quite hard and I've hurt my right leg and shoulder. My partner is working abroad this week so I'm home alone.
I didn't feel it was urgent enough to call an ambulance, so I called a taxi and asked them take me to A&E. When the taxi driver arrived they completely refused to take me!! AIBU to think that they should have taken me?

OP posts:
Bigonesmallone3 · 20/11/2018 20:49

Ummm why would they not take u?!?

flowerandflower · 20/11/2018 20:49

Why did they refuse to take you?

Thesearmsofmine · 20/11/2018 20:50

What was their reason for not taking you?

Lwmommy · 20/11/2018 20:50

What was e reason they gave for refusing?

mineofuselessinformation · 20/11/2018 20:51

Call another one and ask them to take you to the hospital. Don't mention A&E.
If asked, say you're visiting a very sick relative (and use that not to talk any further).
Ask them to drop you outside A&E.
Job done.
I hope all is well.

PurpleDaisies · 20/11/2018 20:52

How odd. I’ve had patients arrive by taxi before.

Hope everything’s ok Flowers

SauvignonBlanche · 20/11/2018 20:52

Did they think you were in labour?

Original poster
PartyPie · 20/11/2018 20:53

They just said that their insurance didn't cover it and that they aren't qualified to know what to do if I was taken ill during the journey...

OP posts:
Original poster
PartyPie · 20/11/2018 20:53

They knew I wasn't in labour

OP posts:
Feefeetrixabelle · 20/11/2018 20:53

Unless you were expecting them to take you for free or needed physical help getting into the taxi then they were completely out of order.

flowerandflower · 20/11/2018 20:53

Bit random as normally taxi drivers dont ask why you're going somewhere. Try another firm or ring triage?

MarthaArthur · 20/11/2018 20:54

First things first are you ok op? Have you been seen yet? If not thats your first priority even if you need to call a different taxi company.

Then when you are ok make a complaint. I bet the reason they refused was because your pregnant and they thought you were in labour. Seems to be a thing round here they often try refuse women in labour. But its not ok.

GreenMeerkat · 20/11/2018 20:54

Did they think you were in labour?

This.

Probably thought his/her taxi would get spoiled. Bit of a dick move.

Call another one x

babysharkah · 20/11/2018 20:54

How bizarre. Call a different firm and just go to the hospital ie don't tell them you're going to a and e.

GreenMeerkat · 20/11/2018 20:55

Oh just seen your post above.

If you've hit your head I would call an ambulance if there's no other way of getting there and a taxi won't take you

Bigonesmallone3 · 20/11/2018 20:55

Or call 111 and they can decide

Original poster
PartyPie · 20/11/2018 20:56

I had the cash to pay and I was planning to just hobble out there so I had no plans to ask for their help to get in.
I've settled on the sofa now (no way I'm going to be getting up again any time soon!) so if everything isn't ok in the morning I will give my GP a ring.
I just thought it was odd that they refused to take me - I won't be using that company again!

OP posts:
Privateandconfidentialplease · 20/11/2018 20:56

I got a taxi twice whilst in labour. I got in and told them where I wanted to go and why and they were fine. Call another taxi company and lie if you have to but you definitely need to get checked out.

RestingButchFace · 20/11/2018 20:56

I have got taxi's to A&E with my very poorly daughter and when I was in labour. The firm I use is a small family firm and we have known them for years though. Hope you get sorted soon, as a pp advised ring another firm and don't mention your injuries.

RCohle · 20/11/2018 20:56

I have some sympathy with not wanting the responsibility / inconvenience of someone being taken seriously ill in the back of a cab.

I think this gets overlooked a lot on MN when people advise getting a taxi to A&E rather than an ambulance for anything short of actual decapitation.

PurpleDaisies · 20/11/2018 20:57

I have some sympathy with not wanting the responsibility / inconvenience of someone being taken seriously ill in the back of a cab.

That could happen with any passenger.

flowerandflower · 20/11/2018 20:58

I'd ring another taxi if movements have changed or decreased. I fell down the stairs at 8 mths pregnant, landed hard on my back and I drank an ice cold drink to get baby moving and got checked to make sure she was ok. Please don't hesitate to go to the hospital if you feel unsure. Better to be safe

jomaIone · 20/11/2018 20:58

That is nonsense. If you were already a patient in hospital being transferred to a different hospital for an appointment etc then those rules apply. However you are responsible for your own health and wellbeing while at home so they can't refuse you!! They don't have to do anything if you became unwell, just get you there quicker. Also any one can become suddenly unwell in s taxi or go into labour!!
You need to get to hospital now but when you're sorted I would make a complaint.

RestingButchFace · 20/11/2018 20:58

Just seen your update please don't wait till the morning if you have hit your head. Call another taxI or even an ambulance if there is no other way of getting there.

Thesearmsofmine · 20/11/2018 20:59

Weird, I was back in forth to hospital in taxis when heavily pregnant, also bought ds2 home from hospital in a taxi at 2 days old and I was post c section,