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

[TheChinkOfaGlass]

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.

I'm in the NE and have just watched Look North. Apparently our ambulance service issued a 'critical alert' at the weekend, they had 245 people waiting. The government have to do something, the NHS is almost completely broken.

I hope you have had help by now OP, I really feel for you and your auntie.

I would go to the press.

Apologies if someone has already suggested this but what about St John's ambulance first aiders? They should have access to some kit.

Your poor Auntie, I'm horrified this could happen.

I've been reading and following since the start, and I am just astounded it's got this far.

I am so, so unbelievably sorry. I'm praying for you guys x

Two GP surgeries in our area three miles apart have had to practically shut up shop one yesterday afternoon the other an hour ago. They're very short staffed due to illness. One will do emergency over the phone consultation, the other has just closed. This is in Wales. There's only the pharmacy left now. And I don't know how long they can carry the burden. Many have left due to the pressure during and after covid. It's all new staff now. I miss them but understand why they quit

Hoping for an update soon, thinking of you 💐

It doesn't seem that the government is inclind to do anything..
I'm surprised the papers haven't picked this up yet.

Hopefully an ambulance has arrived by now.

This is heartbreaking and disgusting.

If youve still not had an ambulance.

Try local fire station
Ring 111 again and say shes deteriorated
Check for local st johns ambulance
Facebook shout out for any help from professionals to get her downstairs. Although i do appreciate you have a difficult building to get out of.

Wishing your Aunty the best x

This is heartbreaking. I really hope she can be seen soon.

I can't stop thinking about your poor aunt, OP. Hope she is OK, what an awful state of affairs ☹️ please do check back in when you can, all good wishes x

Phone your local MP and phone 999 again. Phone 111 also and her GP. I know you’ve done this already but at the very least there should be some kind of ‘holding’ advice from medical professionals with explicit instructions about eating, drinking, toileting, warmth, pain.

This thread has brought tears to my eyes. I am horrified. I really hope you've had some medical support by now. 💐

Similar case and near ;

apple.news/AXT72GXMGTr64fwYAG5AGnw

Don't know exactly which hospital OP's auntie would be heading for should an ambulance ever arrive, but not only has Betsi Cadwallader declared a critical incident yesterday but Shrewsbury and Telford (serves Powys even though it'sin England) have declared one today with ambulances queued up outside.

This is heartbreaking. I hope there is a positive update soon.

This is why we need decent pay and working conditions for paramedics, doctors and nurses, and care workers. Currently there is a staffing crisis all round. Without staff in the hospital, the paramedics can't unload patients and spend hours waiting (sometimes over 12). This is then time they can't answer other calls. With enough care staff, patients can't be discharged from the hospital when medically fit for discharge. The pay for healthcare professionals is abysmal compared to many countries abroad, so many are leaving the country or the profession. If they don't receive a fair pay rise many more will leave too.

Call 999 and ask for the fire brigade, they have the ability to take her downstairs safely and can contact an ambulance on your behalf and they will turn up. And they won't be surprised by you calling them, it's becoming common practice sadly.
I hope she gets help soon

This is just awful OP. I hope she is in hospital now getting the treatment she needs.

I'm not sure how we improve this situation. The Tories can't run the NHS in England, Labour are as bad in Wales. The government aren't even talking about it. They don't talk about the long term solution to the recruitment crisis, bed blocking, medics leaving the UK. It's all so worrying.

So cross at the poster up thread who replied to an Australian mumsnetter saying 'at least we don't pay for ambulances' or words to that effect. We do pay for this shoddy service. DH and I both pay 40% tax and shed loads of national insurance and yet OP's poor aunt has been left lying on the floor for 24 hours. It's a disgrace.

This is terrible @TheChinkOfaGlass - surely if you think she won't survive it would be better to move her- even if it is agony, even if it makes the break worse- rather than just watch her die?! I'm so sorry this is happening. This country feels like it's falling apart.

True this. My friend is a paramedic and for the last few months she's spent shift after shift just standing in a corridor/stuck on an ambulance with a patient waiting to unload them. Said it's been like this for years but much more regular since covid. Says she feels like it's all she does.

I bet the Daily Mail won’t pick up this thread. They bloody should.

Yes, my mum was with paramedics a total of 5 hours after a stroke. We both felt terrible that the paramedics couldn't be on the next call but that's the system now.

If the public had screamed and shouted about sub-optimal care a decade or two ago, rather than sucking up poor service because it was "free" and the NHS had to be worshipped something would have been done.

The public is as much to blame.as successive governments for lapping up the behemoth.

It's absolutely disgusting but equally it had to come to this for the public to begin to bray. Personally I think CV vuilding NHS senior managers are as equally to blame as this, the coalition and the BLiar and Brown governments.

Government after government has failed to acknowledge that the NHs can't continue for the last three decades. Nobody has faced up to the reality that the NHS is not and has not been for decades sustainable.

Some of us have been raising awareness, campaigning etc for 20+ years.

@EmmaAgain22 Indeed. And every time I say nary a word on here, I am crucified.

Praying for you and your poor Aunt op. Its terrifying what has become of our health care system.