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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:
BabyFour2023 · 19/12/2022 17:54

Forfrigz · 19/12/2022 17:54

This is the society wr live in now ffs
Sorry on behalf of everyone OP

What? What are on talking about?

Afterfire · 19/12/2022 17:58

Does your council have an out of hour’s emergency response team? I’m asking because Norfolk has something called the Swifts which will come out to a fall and help to move the person / assess them and or make them comfortable whilst waiting for help. They are run by a team of nursing staff. No idea if they have that where you are but they were really invaluable when going through similar things with my Mum. They even helped us move her from the house when they decided she did need to get to hospital and the paramedics couldn’t manage it well alone (she was bedbound with terminal bowel cancer).

seperatedmum · 19/12/2022 17:59

I'm so sorry to read this I literally feel sick at the thought of your auntie (and you all) suffering so much. I know they aren't an ambulance but is Uber assist suitable for this? to the hospital? but that would be if you could get your auntie downstairs. Hope the ambulance turns up asap tho 🙏🏽

Greenalien1 · 19/12/2022 17:59

I wouldn't roll her but cut her wet clothes off her and try and pull them out if at all possible and if you're also able to go to the shop and buy the adult incontinence pants, cut the sides and slide them under her bottom and covering her front. I really hope shegets help soon

FOJN · 19/12/2022 18:00

Mumuser124 · 19/12/2022 17:39

Hi, in hospital, we would roll people with a broken hip onto the side of the break. Sounds counterproductive but it’s to protect the other side.

This is appropriate only after diagnosis or treatment not before.

PlimplePlop · 19/12/2022 18:01

BabyFour2023 · 19/12/2022 17:54

What? What are on talking about?

Show quote history

What do you think they are talking about? I'm guessing the fact that it is now the norm that severely injured people with injuries that may cause disability and death are left abandoned by the system for extremely long periods of time.
It is an appalling, unforgivable state of affairs.

Afterfire · 19/12/2022 18:01

PlimplePlop · 19/12/2022 18:01

What do you think they are talking about? I'm guessing the fact that it is now the norm that severely injured people with injuries that may cause disability and death are left abandoned by the system for extremely long periods of time.
It is an appalling, unforgivable state of affairs.

Show quote history

Absolutely this.

Mummyratbag · 19/12/2022 18:08

This is heartbreaking. I hope the ambulance arrives soon.

fancyacuppatea · 19/12/2022 18:08

@TheChinkOfaGlass My Grandma fell down the stairs and broke her pelvis. For some reason (I was a baby) her sons didn't get her in hospital straight away but the one thing I do know is that she was incontinent.
I think you need to phone them back and tell them she has a suspected broken pelvis.
Can you get someone with an estate car or a van? Put your foot down - she might need surgery.
I know it's inhumane, but needs must due to the incompetence of this useless government. Flowers

BabyFour2023 · 19/12/2022 18:10

PlimplePlop · 19/12/2022 18:01

What do you think they are talking about? I'm guessing the fact that it is now the norm that severely injured people with injuries that may cause disability and death are left abandoned by the system for extremely long periods of time.
It is an appalling, unforgivable state of affairs.

Show quote history

I obviously don’t know or I wouldn’t be asking why one person is taking it upon themselves to apologise for an ambulance having not yet arrived for a Cat C call. It’s weird. Is she the dispatcher in OPs area today?

MadeForThis · 19/12/2022 18:10

It's so sad. I would phone 111 or 999 and ask about pain management.

thelobsterquadrille · 19/12/2022 18:11

BabyFour2023 · 19/12/2022 18:10

I obviously don’t know or I wouldn’t be asking why one person is taking it upon themselves to apologise for an ambulance having not yet arrived for a Cat C call. It’s weird. Is she the dispatcher in OPs area today?

Show quote history

Empathy? Basic decency?

fancyacuppatea · 19/12/2022 18:12

thelobsterquadrille · 19/12/2022 18:11

Empathy? Basic decency?

Show quote history

The two things that this useless government has no understanding of.

DarkDarkNight · 19/12/2022 18:13

No advice, but what an absolutely terrible situation this country is in. A 78 year old has a fall and is unable to move (possible broken hip perhaps) and that is not seen as an emergency? God help anybody on their own without family and friends.

FindingMeno · 19/12/2022 18:14

Don't move her.
Keep her warm.
Poor woman 😭

Mollymalone123 · 19/12/2022 18:14

I’m so sorry and hope that your poor auntie gets an ambulance as soon as possible xx

wonkylegs · 19/12/2022 18:23

I'm really sorry you are going through this too, my mum fell yesterday and they thought she fractured her pelvis and couldn't move her. Care home staff were fab but they couldn't move her so they just put pads round her and lots of blankets to make her as comfy and warm as possible. Sips of water to keep her hydrated but not needing to wee too much. Lots of reassurance.
Wait for ambulance was 5hrs, wait in ambulance outside a&e was 13 hrs and the 11hrs in assessment unit waiting for a bed. She's just come up to a ward now. Thankfully just broken ribs but has to stay in for pain relief and she's extremely distressed as she has Alzheimer's but she's ok as long as I stay and talk to her. I'm having to go to hotel for a sleep in a bit because I've been up since yesterday so I hope she's ok. Got to say all the staff have been fab but the waits are awful. Make sure you have water and snacks to take with you and phone charger as you may need to stay with her a while.

lululu16 · 19/12/2022 18:26

Just an idea about the damp. Sprinkle lots of talc to dry it up?
So sorry you're going through this. I hope she gets seen asap x

Octo5 · 19/12/2022 18:27

Sorry I don’t have any advice but I hope the paramedics get to her soon.

What an awful situation 💐

Faffandahalf · 19/12/2022 18:36

Can’t believe what I’ve just read; 29 hours for an elderly person with broken ribs to get a bed. absolutely shocking.

fancyacuppatea · 19/12/2022 18:36

@wonkylegs Try to get a good nights sleep. Flowers

LittleAtlas · 19/12/2022 18:37

Totally understand her not wanting to drink in case she has another accident but don't let her get dehydrated. My grandad had a fall, the difference being that he was alone, and was there hours until he was found and he was dehydrated and it affected his kidneys

Sorry you're all going through this. I hope she gets seen soon if she hasn't already

beaconhead · 19/12/2022 18:37

I can’t help OP, but just wanted to say that I hope the crew arrives soon. Your poor aunt. I am so angry that our NHS has been run into the ground to this extent - it seems impossible to believe that this is happening in Britain in 2022. Fucking Tories.

thelobsterquadrille · 19/12/2022 18:40

fancyacuppatea · 19/12/2022 18:12

The two things that this useless government has no understanding of.

Show quote history

Yep, it's shocking.

JugglingJanuary · 19/12/2022 18:42

(((HUG)))

Poor Auntie. I hope they get to you soon.

i wasn't impressed when I had an accident that I had to wait 2 hours, outside in a carpark. Thank fully it was summer & I'm younger than your Auntie (53 now). When the ambulance did arrive, the two guys were absolutely amazing!

They gave me a top up of morphine to he with the pain while waiting.

2.5 years in things are worse, but other than to commiserate I don't think this is the thread to get into that!

Please update us when you can.

xx