AIBU?
There is no ambulance service anymore
Snog · 24/09/2022 08:00
Twice so far this year NHS111 have told me that my dd needs paramedics to attend for severe chest and abdominal pain and that they are on their way.
Both times the ambulance service called me later and said they would not be attending that night as too busy.
I am posting this because I want people to know that there is no functional ambulance service any more.
If you need an ambulance try to take your loved one to hospital yourself instead. This could save their life.
Obviously when you get to hospital good luck with that but at least you are not waiting for an ambulance that will never come.
Rosscameasdoody · 25/09/2022 11:49
StopStartStop · 24/09/2022 19:15
I don't think you're 'talking shit' or 'scaremongering', OP. I've heard the same from an ambulance driver. She said that people who don't need ambulances take them for things they could deal with at a pharmacy, and the waiting times mean ambulances stand in queues for hours.
I was transferred between hospitals in an ambulance in February, turfed out at the door, and made to line up outside in the cold. Thereafter followed a long wait in the general A&E waiting room (though my treatment had started in the first hospital) before being moved to a corridor then to a ward.
Our relative was transferred between hospitals earlier this year as the surgery they needed could not be done at the first hospital . We’re you an inpatient ? Relative had to wait three weeks in the first hospital until the second confirmed that a bed was available - only then could the transfer be arranged. I can’t imagine any scenario where an ambulance crew would simply ‘turf out’ a patient whose treatment had already started at the door of a hospital without prior arrangement.
StickywithSuncream · 25/09/2022 11:52
justasking111 · 25/09/2022 11:39
Re costs caused by delays my neighbor spent 30 hours in A&E his wife drove him there when told of ambulance delays. They finally diagnosed a stroke. His rehabilitation will be long and very expensive.
It's not a great result for the patient or the health board
That’s heartbreaking and enraging in equal measure. And it’s not even rare, is it? How many people up and down the country have died or suffered irreversible injury, purely because of a lack of quick ambulance repose?
And how much extra is this costing the NHS and us?
You would like to think somebody somewhere is looking at this and comparing costs, wouldn’t you. That would be sensible. But it feels like nobody is.
LovedFedAndNoonesDead · 25/09/2022 12:02
We’ve had a situation where we would take our I’ll child to A&E ourselves but, due to having no childcare for the other twin, only 1 parent allowed into A&E (and certainly no siblings understandably) and being told not to drive unless someone can sit with, and watch, the unwell twin - breathing difficulties being reason for needing ambulance; we’ve had no option but to wait for an ambulance in the past months!
Pengwinn · 25/09/2022 12:13
LovedFedAndNoonesDead · 25/09/2022 12:02
We’ve had a situation where we would take our I’ll child to A&E ourselves but, due to having no childcare for the other twin, only 1 parent allowed into A&E (and certainly no siblings understandably) and being told not to drive unless someone can sit with, and watch, the unwell twin - breathing difficulties being reason for needing ambulance; we’ve had no option but to wait for an ambulance in the past months!
Thing is though it's at the stage where even if someone absolutely needs an ambulance they aren't guaranteed to get one within a reasonable or even safe timeline. Absolutely in this scenario an ambulance would be the right thing, but realistically I'd have bundled everyone in the car, parent not driving keeping an eye on poorly child and then they drive back with well children. Pain in the ass yes, but waits for similar calls here have reached 6 or 7 hours.
StopStartStop · 25/09/2022 12:40
Rosscameasdoody · 25/09/2022 11:49
Our relative was transferred between hospitals earlier this year as the surgery they needed could not be done at the first hospital . We’re you an inpatient ? Relative had to wait three weeks in the first hospital until the second confirmed that a bed was available - only then could the transfer be arranged. I can’t imagine any scenario where an ambulance crew would simply ‘turf out’ a patient whose treatment had already started at the door of a hospital without prior arrangement.
StopStartStop · 24/09/2022 19:15
I don't think you're 'talking shit' or 'scaremongering', OP. I've heard the same from an ambulance driver. She said that people who don't need ambulances take them for things they could deal with at a pharmacy, and the waiting times mean ambulances stand in queues for hours.
I was transferred between hospitals in an ambulance in February, turfed out at the door, and made to line up outside in the cold. Thereafter followed a long wait in the general A&E waiting room (though my treatment had started in the first hospital) before being moved to a corridor then to a ward.
I don't care whether you believe me or not, that's what happened!
I was a suspected stroke, had a scan in my local hospital, they wanted to keep me in so transferred me to a hospital twenty miles away where there was a bed.
We got to the door, the ambulance staff turfed me out saying ' Go through there'. The security would not let me in, I had to join a queue, outside, in the dark, in the cold, in the fucking rain at one point. My son in law is a posh boy (man, he's 39), he rang the hospital and complained, they were intimidated and let me indoors. To get from the A&E waiting area to the exclusive corridor I had to play my autism card and point out to them that admin staff had a large empty area and I needed to be in there with them rather than with a couple of hundred people in a foyer. The whole thing was horrific.
onlythreenow · 26/09/2022 08:13
I live in a country where there is a charge for ambulance call outs (except for accidents) and I can assure you that the last thing on anyone's mind if they need help is the cost. It's not as though payment is demanded before treatment, you worry about the payment later.
AmyA202 · 01/11/2022 07:02
She isn't scaremongering ..open your eyes. All youre towns ambulances are outside A&E more often than not. When you hear the control rooms asking if there is anyone available for a catagory 1 over the radio ..that means noone is available. Every truck waiting has patients on, they cannot clear to attend. Please take this lady's advice and take yourself or your loved one to A&E yourself, it could very well save their life. I won't be waiting while it's like this!
BorisisaLune · 01/11/2022 07:10
onlythreenow · 26/09/2022 08:13
I live in a country where there is a charge for ambulance call outs (except for accidents) and I can assure you that the last thing on anyone's mind if they need help is the cost. It's not as though payment is demanded before treatment, you worry about the payment later.
How would charging, say £10 or even £20, clear AE and get extra capacity in hospitals and in Social Care?
We are told repeatedly that money isn't the issue after all?
Ponoka7 · 01/11/2022 07:22
Across Europe, people are taking to the streets. There's been warnings for anyone traveling to Spain that riots/protests are happening. We seem to want to call people liars and downplay what's happening to our country and services. I can't imagine sitting with your dying baby and there isn't an ambulance or any paramedic response. Unless I/someone needed to lie flat we wouldn't wait because luckily we are five-20 minutes away from four hospitals, but not everyone has those options.
www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.kamloopsthisweek.com/local-news/baby-dies-in-barriere-while-waiting-for-ambulance-5753664&ved=2ahUKEwjqjY6stoz7AhXJg1wKHfh0DKAQFnoECCYQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2nPI3TT-YPc0Xrm4S9ag0L
www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.itv.com/news/meridian/2022-10-27/mother-told-it-was-safer-not-to-wait-for-ambulance-after-baby-stopped-breathing&ved=2ahUKEwjqjY6stoz7AhXJg1wKHfh0DKAQFnoECBEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2pVtJ2yhkQh2D43pBh5GDl
Ponoka7 · 01/11/2022 07:25
BlueBar · 01/11/2022 07:17
Bless DS1and his naivety. He's just started working at a hospital coffee shop. He said "ambulance people don't do anything, there are loads of ambulances sitting outside the hospital with nothing to do and coming in for coffee all day".
How is that a 'bless you ' situation? I can't imagine one of my children being so Ill informed. We need our young people to be political. My DD, who works in a hospital, had a 19 year old Tory start work. He seemed amazed that actually, those on the lowest pay brackets work bloody hard and the hospital needs them to be able to function. He's starting to change his political leanings.
BlueBar · 01/11/2022 07:29
Ponoka7 · 01/11/2022 07:25
How is that a 'bless you ' situation? I can't imagine one of my children being so Ill informed. We need our young people to be political. My DD, who works in a hospital, had a 19 year old Tory start work. He seemed amazed that actually, those on the lowest pay brackets work bloody hard and the hospital needs them to be able to function. He's starting to change his political leanings.
BlueBar · 01/11/2022 07:17
Bless DS1and his naivety. He's just started working at a hospital coffee shop. He said "ambulance people don't do anything, there are loads of ambulances sitting outside the hospital with nothing to do and coming in for coffee all day".
Jesus wept is there nothing MNetters can't use to put he boot in? Hopefully you feel better knowing you've taken the opportunity to assert your superiority.
TomTraubertsBlues · 01/11/2022 07:55
BlueBar · 01/11/2022 07:17
Bless DS1and his naivety. He's just started working at a hospital coffee shop. He said "ambulance people don't do anything, there are loads of ambulances sitting outside the hospital with nothing to do and coming in for coffee all day".
Are you not ashamed that he's managed to reach this age without developing any critical thinking skills? Does he not read/watch the news?
I agree with pp, this is not an "Aw, bless" situation.
BlueBar · 01/11/2022 08:00
TomTraubertsBlues · 01/11/2022 07:55
Are you not ashamed that he's managed to reach this age without developing any critical thinking skills? Does he not read/watch the news?
I agree with pp, this is not an "Aw, bless" situation.
BlueBar · 01/11/2022 07:17
Bless DS1and his naivety. He's just started working at a hospital coffee shop. He said "ambulance people don't do anything, there are loads of ambulances sitting outside the hospital with nothing to do and coming in for coffee all day".
Gosh it must be wonderful to have such perfect parenting skills. No he hadn't thought about anything except what he saw in front of it. He understands it now he has. I'd guarantee he wouldn't go out of his way to put someone down though
TomTraubertsBlues · 01/11/2022 08:11
It's nothing to do with being perfect, but if I was at at work and a colleague said something like that, that colleague would go down in my estimation. That's not what you want for your son, is it?
That's why it is not a "bless" situation for someone who is old enough to go out into the world and get a job.
BlueBar · 01/11/2022 08:13
TomTraubertsBlues · 01/11/2022 08:11
It's nothing to do with being perfect, but if I was at at work and a colleague said something like that, that colleague would go down in my estimation. That's not what you want for your son, is it?
That's why it is not a "bless" situation for someone who is old enough to go out into the world and get a job.
You said I should be "ashamed" of my son. Someone you've never met and know nothing about. I'd be far more ashamed if that was the sort of thing he'd say.
TomTraubertsBlues · 01/11/2022 08:39
Comments that are "Ah bless, how innocent!" in a child under 10, are often "WTF, what planet is this person on?" in an adult. Indulging 'naivety' in older children and young adults doesn't do them any favours, because no-one will say "bless" when a 30 year old makes an ignorant remark.
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