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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:
justasking111 · 20/12/2022 22:15

TokyoSushi · 20/12/2022 21:32

Really hoping that the lack of update is because they're at the hospital.

And conserving her phone battery

Original poster
TheChinkOfaGlass · 20/12/2022 22:15

Haven't had a chance to catch up but thought I would update.

Nothing has changed in that we are still waiting for an ambulance. Aunt took it upon herself to ring the hospital when her brother was about to call to exaggerate her condition, so it scuppered his plans.

The hospital have rang her to say they will get someone out tomorrow, but as someone pointed out to me: the hospital have no influence over the ambulance service so we aren't sure whether she misheard or misunderstood.

Whilst she is managing the pain, we are aware that there are ambulance strikes tomorrow which is very worrying. We don't think she will have a very good outcome if she has to wait another 24-48 hours.

Moving her ourselves is definitely not an option.

In herself she is reasonable chilled, she is able to telephone friends. She's been cleaned up today and has had some small bites to eat. When the hospital rang she had a bit of a go at them and they hung up on her. I suggested she stop calling the hospital. My mind is just 100mph at the moment.

OP posts:
Thekormachameleon · 20/12/2022 22:16

Sorry that was for @EdEdiealone

PicturesOfDogs · 20/12/2022 22:17

Omg, this is absolutely awful 😞

Your poor aunt. Have they done anything else, advice on how to make her comfortable, use the toilet etc?

Mamamia32 · 20/12/2022 22:19

I've heard the army are going to help with ambulance strikes tommorow. So sorry this is happening.

GrandTheftWalrus · 20/12/2022 22:20

Sugarfree23 · 20/12/2022 22:14

I had a dermatology appointment in it. I can't remember if it was summer 2020 or summer 21. They used it as an Outpatients hospital for a wee while, mainly for social distancing reasons. Avoiding over crowding the normal hospital waiting rooms.

Show quote history

It would've been 2021. Summer 2020 they still weren't sure if it was going to be used for covid patients.

So were you actually in all the halls and seen all the set up or just what you saw from your appointment?

The reason I ask is I worked there from April 2020 till April 2021 when I went on mat leave and my dh was there from April 2020 till the very minute it got handed back to sec. Which was July 2021 if I remember correctly. I know he finished at midnight as that's when it was handed back.

BobLemon · 20/12/2022 22:20

I have been wondering about these strikes. I’ve been planning, should something awful happen, to put a message on our community Facebook. There must be someone out there with stretchers and a van. But I appreciate you might not be able to manoeuvre a horizontal stretcher out of the maisonette. I guess ambulance crews have gas and air to help with rough moves?

GrandTheftWalrus · 20/12/2022 22:21

I'm so sorry OP I hope you get help soon

IneedanewTV · 20/12/2022 22:22

BirmaBrite · 20/12/2022 22:07

Even if one is insured, private emergency care is not available in the UK. It clearly needs to be.

So some people should have to pay twice for a service so that the private sector doesn't have to get its act together/doesn't have its profit margins impeded ?

So the very rich wait for an ambulance and go to A&E?

JT69 · 20/12/2022 22:24

Just read your update. What a shit show - poor lady. You are doing a fabulous job - take care of yourself too.

Sugarfree23 · 20/12/2022 22:25

GrandTheftWalrus · 20/12/2022 22:20

It would've been 2021. Summer 2020 they still weren't sure if it was going to be used for covid patients.

So were you actually in all the halls and seen all the set up or just what you saw from your appointment?

The reason I ask is I worked there from April 2020 till April 2021 when I went on mat leave and my dh was there from April 2020 till the very minute it got handed back to sec. Which was July 2021 if I remember correctly. I know he finished at midnight as that's when it was handed back.

Show quote history

I was in one of the halls, had my appointment in one of the bed bays. They put the patients in a bay and the dermatologist moved from bay to bay. Avoiding people sitting in waiting rooms. The cleaner followed behind wiping down the chairs after each appointment.

uncomfortablydumb53 · 20/12/2022 22:26

I'm so very sorry your Aunt is still waiting. My heart breaks for you.
I'll be thinking of you both

GrandTheftWalrus · 20/12/2022 22:27

Sugarfree23 · 20/12/2022 22:25

I was in one of the halls, had my appointment in one of the bed bays. They put the patients in a bay and the dermatologist moved from bay to bay. Avoiding people sitting in waiting rooms. The cleaner followed behind wiping down the chairs after each appointment.

Show quote history

If you'd looked about there was what looked like portakabins set up in all the halls, near the ends. And those were the extra toilets, ones with hoists etc. It was very strange seeing it being turned into a hospital when I'd been there only weeks before for the caravan show!

EricNorthmanYesPlease · 20/12/2022 22:27

I think more employers need to provide private medical insurance to help ease the burden.

Hopefully with the military drafted in, they may get round to patients quicker. Its absolutely appaling.

Sugarfree23 · 20/12/2022 22:27

@GrandTheftWalrus but it doesn't really matter the point is they weren't set up for long term care. And the hospital set ups have been dismantled and not available to discharge elderly and infirm patients into.

GrandTheftWalrus · 20/12/2022 22:30

Sugarfree23 · 20/12/2022 22:27

@GrandTheftWalrus but it doesn't really matter the point is they weren't set up for long term care. And the hospital set ups have been dismantled and not available to discharge elderly and infirm patients into.

No, like I say it's currently set up for the irn bru carnival. And apologies it probably was summer 2020 as I recall being in England in Sept 2020 and someone saying it was a complete waste of money as it was used for nothing etc. When I told them about it being used as basically a big clinic they weren't happy at being proved wrong.

willthatbeall · 20/12/2022 22:38

Message her MP to raise awareness of this situation.

EmmaAgain22 · 20/12/2022 22:41

TheChinkOfaGlass · 20/12/2022 22:15

Haven't had a chance to catch up but thought I would update.

Nothing has changed in that we are still waiting for an ambulance. Aunt took it upon herself to ring the hospital when her brother was about to call to exaggerate her condition, so it scuppered his plans.

The hospital have rang her to say they will get someone out tomorrow, but as someone pointed out to me: the hospital have no influence over the ambulance service so we aren't sure whether she misheard or misunderstood.

Whilst she is managing the pain, we are aware that there are ambulance strikes tomorrow which is very worrying. We don't think she will have a very good outcome if she has to wait another 24-48 hours.

Moving her ourselves is definitely not an option.

In herself she is reasonable chilled, she is able to telephone friends. She's been cleaned up today and has had some small bites to eat. When the hospital rang she had a bit of a go at them and they hung up on her. I suggested she stop calling the hospital. My mind is just 100mph at the moment.

blimey, she is a very strong lady
have you had any sleep OP?

mrshoho · 20/12/2022 22:44

Disgraceful that your aunt with suspected hip fracture has been left so long. Has any medical professional assessed her in person?

Sick of hearing that NHS bosses cannot guarantee patient safety during the strike action. Ffs they can't guarantee it in normal service. Category 3/4 being left unanswered are then leading to category 1 emergency or worse death. And again it is the elderly who are suffering the most.

BringOnAutumn · 20/12/2022 22:46

I really feel for you all. I am also ridiculously angry that they hung up on her. I know having a go is not nice but, in her circumstances, I think it’s fully understandable and they should be offering mental support even if they can't do anything physically.

A relative of mine was in a similar position and I thought that several hours was bad enough. This is awful Flowers

Bunnyfuller · 20/12/2022 22:46

This is so so scary. This government are really just letting people die.

I hope you get some help for your aunt soon, OP.

Allsnotwell · 20/12/2022 22:48

There are private ambulance services in wales - have a google

obviously not sure of the cost -

SnowlayRoundabout · 20/12/2022 22:49

This is utterly horrendous. 36 hours' wait for someone with a potentially broken hip? Seriously OP, I would phone and emphasise that you believe she is going downhill and this is now a really dangerous situation. Some idiot has put your aunt on the lowest priority category and that needs to change.

DollieBantrysPantry · 20/12/2022 22:51

This thread is beyond awful and I really hope your aunt gets to the hospital soon, can’t believe it could be another 24-48 hours, it’s horrific

Unsure33 · 20/12/2022 22:52

I know Someone in wales this week who has cancer and was very poorly … 27 hours wait .