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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Make a formal complaint about an ambulance medic?

187 replies

KungFuPandaWorksOut20 · 15/03/2020 21:45

I want to say I understand with corona virus ambulance and NHS are stretched, that's why I'm asking for opinions.

Phoned 111 last night, my husband hasn't been well for nearly a week. But last night he wasn't himself. His temp was raging, and he was in a state of confusion. I went through his symptoms, they kept coming back to COVID-19, I explained he's not showing any of them but still answered their checklist.

They send an ambulance, which arrives within an hour. The woman enters wearing protective equipment, and straight away I found her quite rude. She greeted my husband with are you the one who is supposedly ill? She's asking him questions and not get much sense from him. She radio's someone and says I don't think it's COVID-19, more like a person with a cold feeling sorry for themselves.

I explained I never once rang it through as the corona virus, I was massively concerned about his temp he was struggling to manage and his confusion.

She exits and says she needs to phone someone. 10 minutes later she knocks on passes me paperwork and says he needs to go to an OOH and it isn't corona virus.

I read over the paperwork and honestly it is filled with so much rubbish it's like it's someone else's form. For instance she's put down allergies he doesn't have. Wrote down he refused too speak with them, the only reason they've revered him to an OOH because he insisted. (He refused to speak with them, yet insisted he gets referred Hmm)

The OOH doctor was a bit arsey when we first arrived, because it was clear the lady had made out like he was there over nothing.

Long story cut short, turns out he has pneumonia (nothing covid related) hence the reason for the delirium and temp. Once the doctor realised something was wrong she was absolutely amazing!

I get the ambulance service is extremley stretched given the current state of affairs, but WIBU in reporting the medic? I just feel massively let down on my husband's behalf.

OP posts:
UsernameUnknownn · 15/03/2020 22:28

Report! For sure! Doesn't matter how far stretched people are they have a duty of care which she completely failed on.
Hope your husband makes a speedy recovery OP! Thanks

WorraLiberty · 15/03/2020 22:29

If the NHS wasn't under so much pressure I would probably raise a complaint - but at the moment you would be taking away valuable time for them to investigate so I'd leave it.

Yeah just leave it. Leave her to be nasty to vulnerable patients and risk killing them with wrong information Hmm

Bibijayne · 15/03/2020 22:32

Please complain. Regardless of the stress she is under, that's how people die. A friend's teenage son was dismissed in a similar way (from A&E) went into septic shock.

As a PP said, a complaint will not cost her a job bit may lead to better training. It may be that she was given incorrect info, in which case communications need to be improved. If no one says anything, no one knows there may be an issue.

Isla727 · 15/03/2020 22:33

How do you know its not Coronavirus pneumonia without a test? What awful treatment from the paramedic.

HedgehogDramas · 15/03/2020 22:33

What tests do they do for Coronavirua apart from taking your temperature? I'm unsure as if there are people walking about with the virus, but without any symptoms, how do they know?

LaLaLandIsNoFun · 15/03/2020 22:34

Completely unacceptable.

Deux · 15/03/2020 22:35

I absolutely would complain along the lines of ‘I am concerned ..... ‘. If it was just rudeness I might let it go. The paperwork errors are potentially serious. You won’t be the only one.

Isla727 · 15/03/2020 22:35

Also do complain and I think you phone your GP and say that you are concerned that the pneumonia might viral Covid19 pneumonia rather than bacterial.

Survivingchipandkippee · 15/03/2020 22:35

I think you report but acknowledge that under pressure and that working hard. It’s important she knows that she needs to take each case on its merits not a prejudged outcome. You could be saving someone else’s life by giving her a wake up call.

TheRealShatParp · 15/03/2020 22:37

Your husband was treated very badly. This should be highlighted to the Trust, but as other posters have said, perhaps not so much a complaint but more a factual statement of what happened. They need to know about that level of rudeness and incompetence, but without the pressure of receiving a complaint that requires answers.

ginandbearit · 15/03/2020 22:38

Absolutely complain ..what she did was A unprofessional and B potentially life threatening ... Being rude and arsey probably a pattern for her , I've met a few .

Bibijayne · 15/03/2020 22:39

@HedgehogDramas two throat swabs which are then lab tested.

Phoenix76 · 15/03/2020 22:40

Why the bloody hell are we saying “under the circumstances just leave it ? Are you saying if this was one of your loved ones treatment from a medical professional and let’s say they died as a result you’d “let it go” because of how much pressure they’re under? I’m a total supporter of the staff in the nhs, even more respect to them now but that member was totally out of line on so many levels and this could have cost someone’s life. Op, I would alert pals to this incident and hope your dd makes a quick recovery, if this sort of thing isn’t stopped then fuck me god help us all!

magoria · 15/03/2020 22:43

I think you should complain.

This woman could lead to one or more people dying. She should not be doing this role if she is not competent. She put down incorrect information, missed vital information and completely dismissed your H's state of confusion.

It doesn't matter how stressed or under pressure she failed massively.

KungFuPandaWorksOut20 · 15/03/2020 22:43

I'm not out for blood against the paramedic, more of a sort this out so it doesn't happen again. I'm fortunate I was their for my husband, the next person she treats like that and misdiagnosed could end up dead.

Now I'm panicking that it is covid that's caused the pneumonia.

The doctor seemed pretty confident it wasn't because he hasn't been in contact with someone recently from abroad, works from home etc, his age - apparently this puts him in the low risk category. He is still in hospital and will be for a few days.

OP posts:
peaceanddove · 15/03/2020 22:43

I don't care how stressed she might have been, the nature of her job means her behaviour and actions can determine whether someone lives or dies, so sorry but she doesn't get to throw her toys out of the pram and act like an arse. If she can't remain professional and accurate when under pressure then she is in the wrong job.

DH's best mate is a consultant in A&E, you don't find him writing down incorrect allergies on forms or being pissy with innocent patients just because he's under pressure.

LuluJakey1 · 15/03/2020 22:45

I would complain because what she did was inaccurate and could have been really dangerous. She knew the facts because you told her but chose to record something very different that could have affected how he was treated. We are just two weeks into this with relatively small numbers. How will she cope in two months time when the numbers could be huge. She sounds unprofessional to me, not stressed.

WhatWouldYouDoWhatWouldJesusDo · 15/03/2020 22:45

I think you should complain.

Stressed or not belittling people like that may put them off seeking further help which can turn nasty........as your husband was clearly ill she had absolute no need to have such a bad attitude.

HedgehogDramas · 15/03/2020 22:47

@Bibijayne Thank you - I should've looked it up myself really :)

WorraLiberty · 15/03/2020 22:47

Now I'm panicking that it is covid that's caused the pneumonia.

It doesn't really matter either way. He's in hospital and that's the best place for him.

And now that he is, they'll probably test him anyway.

Yallreadyforthis · 15/03/2020 22:54

Agree with a factual email.

Being stretched is an excuse to be short tempered- not putting false info on his sheet. That's just not doing her job.

Whatsername177 · 15/03/2020 22:54

Just to forewarn you, after he is finished with IV antibiotics, he will most likely need oral antibiotics for several weeks. My dads chest xray showed it was still there 2 months after he almost died, even though he felt better. It was a lengthy recovery process, although he did have sepsis too. And they found an underlying blood cancer (CLL) so his case was extreme! Just be prepared, make him take a couple of weeks off work, especially given the current climate as he will be vulnerable. Flowers

Savingshoes · 15/03/2020 22:54

I would complain. You were pushy enough to get your husband seen by another medical professional, diagnosed and given treatment.
Not every person is going to have that level of advocate.
Somewhere along the line the communication got missed - someone somewhere suggested that the reason for the call was corona.
But that's not your fault and your husband should not suffer for it.
Her attitude was annoying but scary that she lied on paperwork.
I would take it further.

Msmcc1212 · 15/03/2020 22:55

I would feedback. You don’t have to make it a formal complaint but at the very least you need to make sure correct information is on his medical file. Also, without the feedback things won’t change.

I’m surprised they are not considering testing for Covid-19. If its something he’s had for a few weeks maybe not, but two weeks or so and I would think there was a chance.

Good luck lovely. Hope he recovers well.

LangSpartacusCleg · 15/03/2020 22:56

I would complain.

The paperwork issues are more important than her attitude. Those sorts of mistakes (lies?) can lead to death.