To call an ambulance for my baby?

[Kanfuzed123]

So my baby is 3 weeks and caught the horrid cold I had at delivery. Day 10 and 14 midwife and HV said he seems ok but watch out for retraction, as colds can become bronchilitis, if he starts retracting he needs to get to a and e asap. He looked worse today, couldn’t get to see GP so sent a video, GP said he seems ok but monitor. Tonight he started retracting more significantly and he’s been so sleepy, falling asleep in feeds. So I went to take him to hospital but my fucking car won’t start, and an error message has come up on the dashboard. Ubers keep cancelling and the only taxi firm answering have more than an hr wait.

I should call an ambulance right? I don’t want to over react and drain NHS but equally my little boy is struggling

Thanks @StopGo, my HV had said it’s only retractions when you can see every rib from the back and front which I now know is incorrect, but due to my misunderstanding of the signs and the GP saying it’s all ok, I ignored some of the signs earlier, luckily my baby is ok (as the majority would be) but according to the leaflet that the hospital gave me 3% of kids end up on oxygen so it pays to be vigilant x

I'm glad you got home and hope you had a good Christmas and he is getting better.
My daughter has been admitted for oxygen on a few occasions. We've had times when we've called 111 or gone to OOH and it is them that have made the decision an ambulance is needed. There have also been times when I have felt her breathing has been pretty bad but she maintains her oxygen saturation so doesn't need any additional support. It is really difficult to tell without a proper medical examination, listening to chest and taking oxygen readings, if extra support is needed, so it is always worth getting checked particularly with a baby so young.

although I do feel a little guilty, shouldn’t have listened to the GP and gone in earlier.

Don't feel guilty. You followed medical advice. Lazy terrible medical advice but you weren't to know!

@Draggondragon

WTAF?

As a pp posted… if there was one ambulance available, a baby and a 70 year old both with breathing difficulties, tge vast majority of people would make the same decision. There is something wrong with them if they didn’t….

So glad your baby is ok OP. Lovely news x

How can they justify 2 hours, it's criminal and potentially murder. Ask anyone else in any other country how long 999 takes to arrive. God, the shit you people put up with

I'm in a part of Australia that's really well serviced by ambulances and you still sometimes have to wait a few hours. Our healthcare system is one of the best in the world.

Which country do you live in? I would love to hear sepcific examples of these countries where an ambulance will always arrive within minutes, even during a pandemic.

Op glad the little one is on the mend. Don't feel guilty about calling and ambulance. I often say to my adult respiratory patients who also don't like to bother them if you are at the stage of wondering if you should call an ambulance then the answer generally is you should. The call center can prioritise you better than you can

@SimpsonsXmasBoogie
I'm in the US...I believe the average response time here is less than 10 minutes...our fire brigade units are equipped with paramedic supplies and some first responders have EMS training...some fire stations have ambulances, some don't..in that case they come from the nearest hospital or private transport company

[quote SwtPeasOnEarth]@SimpsonsXmasBoogie
I'm in the US...I believe the average response time here is less than 10 minutes...our fire brigade units are equipped with paramedic supplies and some first responders have EMS training...some fire stations have ambulances, some don't..in that case they come from the nearest hospital or private transport company[/quote]
Is it not variable depending on how rural somewhere is? I believe the US is similar to Australia in that there are some very remote areas that are difficult to reach quickly

@SimpsonsXmasBoogie

I would have to say you are probably right.

@Kanfuzed123 How is your LO doing? And how are you holding up? Prayers for you both

How can they justify 2 hours, it's criminal and potentially murder. Ask anyone else in any other country how long 999 takes to arrive. God, the shit you people put up with

In parts of Canada there is still no 911 and some parts just got it. There are large swathes of the world with no 999, volunteer fire fighters, and no hospital without airlifting. And that's not even getting into how you pay for it in other places.

Canada isn't a place I would want to live. As for how you pay, you take out quality insurance and work in industries that have good salary and benefits and have savings to pay for having to visit a thorld world country Healthcare system like the UK. I don't expect a government to pay for my health, why shouldnt I be responsible for my health. I may have liked to be in a lesser paid job, or live on the dole my whole life but I like earning enough to be free from the worry of shitty politics. Its not rocket science. 2 hours is ridiculous and not an emergency response. I stand by the opinion that the UK public are pathetically grateful for a terrible system.

Out of interest OP will you go back to your GP and let them know what they potentially missed?

I feel it would benefit them to understand how a video call is t sufficient and the awful situation they put you in.

I'd also be moving GP

Canada isn't a place I would want to live.

It is a shithole, that's for sure. Ranked 1 or 2 in the world consistently overall. 16 for life expectancy. 99% literacy rate. Famously beautiful and peaceful. Political stability only exceeded by NZ and the Scandis.

And I think the current situation does rather outline the reason for well-funded and accessible public healthcare. You do know that Americans pay more than Brits in TAXES for healthcare, even though it's not free at the point of delivery for many Americans, right? You pay for it twice, it had better be twice as good. Leading cause of bankruptcies in the US of course. And who doesn't want bankruptcies? They are great.

I have worked in Canada for a brief time, didn't like it much. You do understand that the Internet is a place where people don't have to agree with you or like a place because you do? What a futile load of drivel.

[quote SwtPeasOnEarth]@SimpsonsXmasBoogie
I'm in the US...I believe the average response time here is less than 10 minutes...our fire brigade units are equipped with paramedic supplies and some first responders have EMS training...some fire stations have ambulances, some don't..in that case they come from the nearest hospital or private transport company[/quote]
www.cnbc.com/amp/2020/07/10/why-taking-an-ambulance-is-so-expensive-in-the-united-states.html

It costs what it costs. Who cares if it saves your life by actually turning up? We have saved enough to be able to use private medicine if we have to return to the UK because we don't want to die because of thirld world rationing. Its a choice. Some people save for a dream retirement, I have saved to be safe, healthy and alive. And along the way, ensured I can support myself and my family by having a decent career and have some nice stuff. It's a choice not a fairy godmother wish to look after yourself.

@Draggondragon

It costs what it costs. Who cares if it saves your life by actually turning up? We have saved enough to be able to use private medicine if we have to return to the UK because we don't want to die because of thirld world rationing. Its a choice. Some people save for a dream retirement, I have saved to be safe, healthy and alive. And along the way, ensured I can support myself and my family by having a decent career and have some nice stuff. It's a choice not a fairy godmother wish to look after yourself.

You’ll fine private medicine only provides a certain amount and you still need a referral from your NHS GP I’ve found. Also there is a lack of continuity of care - you have to do all the ringing around and chasing

Finally emergency care is only available at NHS hospitals

@Draggondragon

It costs what it costs. Who cares if it saves your life by actually turning up? We have saved enough to be able to use private medicine if we have to return to the UK because we don't want to die because of thirld world rationing. Its a choice. Some people save for a dream retirement, I have saved to be safe, healthy and alive. And along the way, ensured I can support myself and my family by having a decent career and have some nice stuff. It's a choice not a fairy godmother wish to look after yourself.

You better stay where you are then, because in an emergency you can’t call your private insurance, you’ll still need to dial 999.

You can of course use a private ambulance. I have done on several occasions, it's covered by my insurance. And you don't need a NHS referral, o see a private GP if I need referring when there. I literally haven't experienced one single NHS person when I've been there. Last time my insurance sent the GP to my hotel.room, I didn't even have to go out. I saw the ENT 2 hours later in Bupa.

@Draggondragon

You can of course use a private ambulance. I have done on several occasions, it's covered by my insurance. And you don't need a NHS referral, o see a private GP if I need referring when there. I literally haven't experienced one single NHS person when I've been there. Last time my insurance sent the GP to my hotel.room, I didn't even have to go out. I saw the ENT 2 hours later in Bupa.

The only time I’ve ever seen a private ambulance are the ones which carry dead bodies!

Even if they do exist, the whole covid situation and the self isolation rules people have to follow etc could mean they don’t have the staff available.

No amount of money can stop covid and the restrictions placed on people etc…

There's a company called Healix who organise everything. Check if you don't believe me. I can provide the paperwork evidence if you want to stop accusing me of lying.

OP - I hope your little one continues to be well. What a fright on Christmas Eve. Hope you managed to relax in the end.

@Draggondragon

There's a company called Healix who organise everything. Check if you don't believe me. I can provide the paperwork evidence if you want to stop accusing me of lying.

I’m really not that invested 😂

I’m simply pointing out that they still need to be staffed. That’s the crux of the problem with covid.

One of the kids caught Covid at school in a rural area of the UK. They were taken by private ambulance (without being dead) to the guardians house and visited by a private GP every day until they could return to school. No NHS, no 111 etc. Face to face care. According to him, the doctor had a 'well awesome car' so assuming that both private health and private GPs do indeed exist if people take the trouble to provide for themselves properly.