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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I know IABU, blatantly using this for traffic. Emergency situation, no ambulance still, and need advice

765 replies

TheChinkOfaGlass · 19/12/2022 16:35

Hi everyone

My Auntie had a fall this morning and has seriously hurt her hip. Luckily she was close enough to the bed to get herself up on it.

999 said it is not an emergency and to contact 111, she was in severe agony and is 78 years old. I rang 111 who after assessing her, decided she did indeed need an ambulance.

I had originally offered to take her to the hospital but she lives on the top floor of a maisonette, and is unable to sit up (so a car journey would be no good and I would be unable to carry her to the car anyway. I did get help but she declined due to the inability to even sit up).

Her husband is disabled so isn't much use (I mean this in the nicest possible way, he is trying his best) other than keeping an eye on her.

So we could be waiting hours for an ambulance but in the meantime she is soaked through on the bed due to urinating on herself. I am going there in the next 30 minutes.

Is it safe to roll her to change the sheets to make her more comfortable? I don't like the idea of her lying in a soaking bed while she waits. I am also scared of causing more pain/damage by moving her. We do not know what's wrong, she thinks it may he her hip. I just don't know what to do. I have never experienced this kind of thing.

Her partner has managed to change her underwear but when the bed is so wet, it wouldn't really make a difference.

OP posts:
ParrotsAteThemAll · 20/12/2022 18:09

Gosh I’m so sorry you’re going through this, it’s totally unacceptable.

I’ve only skim read so not sure what advice you’ve been given. please put an urgent plea on your local Facebook group for help stating how long she’s been waiting. I’m sure off duty HCP’s will come and assist rolling your auntie to check her skin and attend to continence. I would never normally advise to move someone but we are in desperate times. I think you really need to think about getting her to a&e, ask if anyone can help with moving her onto a board then into a van, god it’s awful even given that advise but she can’t wait another 24hrs!

best of luck

MrPickles73 · 20/12/2022 18:12

I hope you are not still waiting? Mid Wales is this Powys?
I would ring Ambulance and just make something up at this stage to speed them up. Waiting a whole day and not being able to get the bathroom is not acceptable. She will become dehydrated if she is not drinking.
Defo put out a plea on your local facebook group and see if someone can help. You may well have a local first responder who could come out.
How about the fire brigade to get her downstairs and then someone with a big car boot to get to the hospital?
Best of luck OP - this sounds very stressful and you are being a trooper. X

FixTheBone · 20/12/2022 18:14

TheChinkOfaGlass · 20/12/2022 14:22

Still no ambulance or technicians. Ambulance strike tomorrow. If that means another 48 hour wait, I don't think she will survive

God, this is terrible.

As an orthopaedic surgeon, I can't give you specific advice, but I can talk in generalities.

In general, the vast majority of people with broken hips that I see, who have problems recovering in hospital are due to dehydration, picking up a chest infection or pressure sores, or just general de-conditioning, we know that this problems are made worse by delays.

Ideally moving without a proper stretcher/equipment shouldn't be attempted, but there's a crossover point where waiting becomes more of a risk, nobody can tell you where that point lies, as each person/patient is different....

For my relative, I'd be finding a way to move them at 24 hours down the line... either pay for a private ambulance, plus see if GP can come out to give a shot of morphine for the transfer, or rigging up a splint at stretcher and just getting it done, despite how painful it is going to be.....

...Easy to say when I've spent 20 years learning how to move and transfer patients with hip fractures safely, I know.

ZeViteVitchofCwismas · 20/12/2022 18:18

Good shout about asking on FB etc locally.
Good point fix the bone.

RosesAndHellebores · 20/12/2022 18:24

Blaming the Tories seems rather futile when the OP is in left wing, devolved Wales.

Your poor aunt @TheChinkOfaGlass. I wonder of the fire brigade could help? I am disgusted that a GP didn't come out to administer morphine so you could have moved her come hell or high water.

Did you contact your MP today?

I am appalled and disgusted in equal measure although this may not necessarily be due to the strikes, rather decades of mismanagement.

Beach11 · 20/12/2022 18:24

Gosh, I hope by some miracle you have managed to get her to a&e.

SlashBeef · 20/12/2022 18:25

This is without a doubt the most upsetting thing I've seen on MN. I can't believe this is what it has come to in this country!

CrackersCheeseAndWinePlease · 20/12/2022 18:26

This is heartbreaking! I hope your aunt is now in hospital receiving treatment. I echo other posters put a plea out on Facebook for help. Utterly disgusting she's had to wait this long.
The government should hang its head in shame!!

ancientgran · 20/12/2022 18:26

I don't know how much it would cost but I think I'd try and find out about a private ambulance. I don't think anyone should suffer like this. It is a disgrace and I hope you get help soon.

VanGoghsDog · 20/12/2022 18:29

ancientgran · 20/12/2022 18:26

I don't know how much it would cost but I think I'd try and find out about a private ambulance. I don't think anyone should suffer like this. It is a disgrace and I hope you get help soon.

The problem is, they don't really exist for emergency situations.

2bazookas · 20/12/2022 18:30

CoffeeBoy · 20/12/2022 14:51

I’d honestly ring a mountain rescue team if you have one locally and beg them

Good idea. They have stretchers and long vehicles.

Oher · 20/12/2022 18:31

So sorry OP.

Private ambulance? Something like privateambulanceuk.co.uk ? Maybe even to private hospital?

Private GP?

Bepis · 20/12/2022 18:31

SlashBeef · 20/12/2022 18:25

This is without a doubt the most upsetting thing I've seen on MN. I can't believe this is what it has come to in this country!

I agree, this is absolutely horrific. I've read stories in papers but to see it play out in real time on this thread is awful. I can't even imagine what the OP and her family are feeling. I'm eagerly checking this thread hoping for an update.

Thesearmsofmine · 20/12/2022 18:32

This is horrendous, your poor auntie. I would definitely be seeing what local people could suggest by way of help, Facebook is great for this kind of thing.

Addymontgomeryfan · 20/12/2022 18:36

I have been a long time lurker on Mumsnet, but felt compelled to join to say you have been in my thoughts all day and I hope your recent silence means you finally have some help.

EezyOozy · 20/12/2022 18:38

I hope you’re not still waiting Op… I’ve been popping back onto this thread to keep checking. Thinking of you and your poor Aunt.

Reindear · 20/12/2022 18:39

This is so so sad. I checked your post feeling sure you’d be at the hospital by now. Your poor poor auntie. She must be feeling so scared, vulnerable and in pain. And embarrassed with the toilet issues. It’s a terrible state of affairs. If private ambulances are available in powys I would look into that. Or ring 999 and say she is deteriorating maybe? Which I can’t imagine is a lie after lying 48 hours in her own urine with a broken hip at her age

gettingalife · 20/12/2022 18:41

I am so very sorry to read this OP. What a sad state of affairs things have become. I'm hoping some help has now arrived?

Sending my thoughts and hope.

HoneyIshrunkthe · 20/12/2022 18:41

@Bepis
Yes sheets are great for moving people.

At this stage she needs to get to hospital by any means possible.
She may not be seen straight away but at the very least may get some sort of pain relief and supervision.

OP if ambulance has still not arrived, and no other help is available, please round up as many people as you can to get her out and transported safely to a hospital. Its not ideal and it may cause problems but at the moment, as it stands, that is her best option.

Thinking of you all x

Feckinlego · 20/12/2022 18:45

Can't stop thinking about you op and your horrendous situation. Giving you a virtual handhold.

Sennedd · 20/12/2022 18:49

This horrifies me. What an awful situation. I can’t add anything helpful to what has already been said but wanted to say I am thinking of you.

DuncanBiscuits · 20/12/2022 18:50

This is awful. What have we come to?

CavalierApproach · 20/12/2022 18:51

Just awful. Like someone said above: criminal.

At the individual level I'm heartbroken for OP's auntie. The pain and the fear and the lack of dignity 😔Her husband must be traumatised as well.

On the wider society level, how the hell can we possibly get back to acceptable standards of comprehensive care for all, with the patient at the heart of it etc., now that things have dropped this far? Terrifying

Ilikewinter · 20/12/2022 18:56

Wow...absolutely shocking OP

indecisivewoman81 · 20/12/2022 19:05

I feel enraged on your behalf. I came on to this thread today, sure that you would have been seen at hospital by now. What a bloody awful and sad state of affairs the NHS in in.

Can you phone the GP? Round up people to help strap your auntie to a board and get her into hospital that way?

Just awful. I feel awful for you