Ambulance/999/hospital question!

[Pleasedontstopthemusic]

I know that this is a silly question but I was just wondering!

I was involved in a bad accident from a height a year ago- I was thrown off and hurt my head, neck, hip, leg and shoulder (eventer!) . An ambulance was called and obviously I had to go to hospital for x rays. When the ambulance arrived, I suddenly felt terrified and became weirdly hysterical- I hadn’t been upset until then but it’s as if I became possessed with panic and I was terrified of going to hospital. Very embarrassing to think back on! I was hysterical and insisting I didn’t want to go to hospital and that they could leave because I didn’t need an ambulance. They were lovely and so patient and I came round eventually and went to hospital. I’ve never been hysterical like that before but I suddenly felt so panicked!

Anyway, my question was just out of pure nosyness, and after watching one of those 999 tv programs where someone completely refused to go to hospital in the ambulance but were taken in by the police (I think they had a MH crisis so different situation), but what would happen if someone flat out refused to go to hospital even though they obviously needed to go? Obviously in my case I was hurt but I still felt fine to make my own decisions so I presume if I had refused to go to hospital they would have eventually accepted it and left? Or would the paramedics insist on going in if someone is hurt? At what point is someone not able to make their own decision about if they go to hospital or not? Or different situation altogether but what if someone was drunk and didn’t want to go but they were too drunk to leave alone?

As I said, just curious as it’s not something (thankfully) I know anything about and wondered just out of interest if anyone knew! After watching that 999 program I have even more respect for call handlers, paramedics and everyone involved in the 999 process- they all do such an incredible job.

They take their time and work on encouraging you to go, treating you as best they can in situ. They would never manhandle a person to get them to hospital.

I was in a serious bike accident many years ago , I was knocked out but apparently came round briefly ( I don't remember ) and apparently screamed blue murder at all the poor paramedics but by that point I was very firmly strapped to a spinal board with a coller on so there was bugger all I could do about been taken, thank goodness .
I still think about this incident quite often and wish I could find the paramedics that I swore and cursed at and apologise.

I’m thinking that if the person is of sound mind they cannot be taken against their will, only advised etc and encouraged. If it is believe you could have a head injury or a reason to be unable to make the best decision for yourself due to this or perhaps other issues like intoxication but are deemed a risk to yourself or others i think you can be forced- perhaps the police would be called to help. I think there would have to be some kind of incapacity declared … but interesting and one question I will follow up.

I think it depends on the situation. You can refuse treatment by paramedics, they'll ask you to sign a form stating that you're refusing treatment (after doing their best to persuade you otherwise).

However, if you're in a critical condition and bleeding out or something there's probably an argument for you not being in your right mind.

www.paramedicpractice.com/Features/article/a-guide-to-the-mental-capacity-act-for-paramedics

— though paramedics are generally pretty experienced in persuading people too.

I mean they'll presumably respect your legal rights if you have capacity to refuse, but I think they prefer to try convincing someone to accept help before having to get into questions of capacity.

If you have capacity, and it's not something they 'have to' transport you for (mental health) then they can have you sign a form stating you refused and they have no responsibility

The elderly lady next door to me screams at the staff on her care-line intercom, begging for help - every.single.day they send an ambulance and she refuses to leave her house. Sometimes the paramedics leave and within the hour she's shouting on the intercom again.

They try to coax her every day to allow them to take her to hospital (she's hard of hearing so I can hear every word they 'shout' at her) but she has capacity, apparently, so their hands are tied I suppose.

(She's just started shouting again whilst I was writing this )

Paramedic here- if someone refused to go to hospital and they have the mental capacity (mental capacity act) to make that decision then they cannot be forced to go. They sign disclaimer forms and are explicitly told what the consequences of failing to attend hospital are.
If they do not have capacity we act in their best interest and that's when police are involved