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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:
Jellyjunction · 19/12/2022 21:21

I'd also be calling back, every hour. You say she's distressed, if she was distressed bordering on confusion and low temperature she might score higher on their algorithms for attending (as she'd score for possible sepsis)... To be honest if it was my aunt I'd be saying anything to get them to come faster. Its such an awful awful state of affairs. I know there are other people waiting too but I do think that elderly people with possible hip fractures aren't put high enough up in the queue based on their triage scores. It increases mortality to have hours before being taken in with a fractured hip. Handhold x

beezlebubnicky · 19/12/2022 21:21

This is disgraceful, OP; I'm so sorry to hear of how much pain she's in and hope the ambulance comes soon. Agree with those who have said to ramp it up, exaggerate if you have to and keep calling - as the poster above said, try the out of hours GP.

I hope people remember all those who suffered like this when the next general election come around, and don't vote the sodding Tories back in.

Viciouslybashed · 19/12/2022 21:22

I was pondering a hair dryer to dry her so she isnt wet and cold. Really feel for you and your poor aunt.

BeethovenNinth · 19/12/2022 21:22

This is utterly appalling.

i would phone 999 and say she is losing consciousness and you are concerned for her heart.

Orinoco22 · 19/12/2022 21:25

Will she take sips of water? I would want to get some sugar in her too if it's not dangerous medically.

Water / squash / teaspoon of sugar.

I'd call back 999 to ask for advice on keeping her stable while you wait.

Original poster
TheChinkOfaGlass · 19/12/2022 21:26

Neither of us feel comfortable with lying to the ambulance, there could be someone out there in a more urgent position. I get where you're coming from though.

Goodness, I didn't even consider OOH gp. I will get on that now

OP posts:
Orinoco22 · 19/12/2022 21:26

Orinoco22 · 19/12/2022 21:25

Will she take sips of water? I would want to get some sugar in her too if it's not dangerous medically.

Water / squash / teaspoon of sugar.

I'd call back 999 to ask for advice on keeping her stable while you wait.

Not medically trained btw but unless there's a reason why you can't, I think its important.

meetmynewusername · 19/12/2022 21:26

I’m mid Wales too btw. On the coast. PM me if you need another person and if I’m close enough I will help x

Original poster
TheChinkOfaGlass · 19/12/2022 21:26

Oh amd it's been over 12 hours since the injury

OP posts:
Blinkingheckythump · 19/12/2022 21:27

This is awful. I can't believe that people are just being left in agony like this. What even is the point in ambulances if they aren't able to get to people who need them for hours on end! I'm so sorry for your aunt

LouLou198 · 19/12/2022 21:30

This is so distressing to read. Hope she manages to get the help she needs soon. Heat/ice packs can sometimes be helpful for pain if she has anything you could use.

Toddlerteaplease · 19/12/2022 21:33

Fireflygal · 19/12/2022 19:15

What pain relief has she taken? Are you near any care home who might have someone to assist her -shouldnt have to but an assessment will be reassuring.

Know any nurses or friends of nurses.

No care home will be able to come and help a complete stranger.

EmmaAgain22 · 19/12/2022 21:34

ShitShoweringClouds · 19/12/2022 21:18

I would phone the put of hours GP and ask them to come and prescribe pain relief. And send the community nurses out to administer it.

I don't think there's been out of hours GP in my area for 10+ years.

Stunningscreamer · 19/12/2022 21:35

TooTrusting · 19/12/2022 20:19

In November 2021 (South Wales) my 83 yo DM with suspected hip or spinal fracture waited 22 hours for her ambulance. That was after 2 days of us asking for an ambulance and being refused one. When we got to the hospital she then spent 29 hours in the back of an ambulance. One of 17 backed up ambulances. In fact our ambulance came from Brecon as our major city (60 minutes drive away) had not one single free ambulance.
It was inhumane. We changed ambulances 3 times and saw 3 paramedic shift changes. 3 entire consecutive shifts saw 6 paramedics tending to one single patient stuck in the back of a stationary ambulance. And the same for the other 16 ambulances. So demoralising. And what an utter waste of resources. I had a lodger who was the senior registrar in the same A&E and he says the department is properly staffed and they have the capacity (in human terms) to treat far more patients. However the department is too small and not fit for purpose. He has told me that if anything happens to any of us to get in the car and go to Bristol and we'll be there and back and treated hours before we'd even start to be treated at our local hospital. We cannot blame the Tories for this in Wales, health has been devolved for years here and mismanaged by the Labour govt. Our hospitals, unlike in England, do not have to publish whether targets are being met (or rather how much they are being missed) so there is no accountability and nobody knows how bad things really are.
I'm very sorry for what is happening to your aunt OP.

The Tories have both ushered in Brexit, which has led to the loss of clinical staff back to the EU, and reduced places at medical school when we're desperate for new doctors. They definitely share the blame for this. Also the mismanagement of the pandemic is down to the current government.

Bunnycat101 · 19/12/2022 21:36

This is so upsetting to read. I hope an ambulance arrives soon and the poor lady gets some proper pain relief. This is the reality for many and it isn’t good enough. The longer-term outcomes for elderly people who have fallen and then been stuck in pain for hours on a floor can’t be good nor the trauma of being left in such an undignified way for hours.

Toddlerteaplease · 19/12/2022 21:37

BeethovenNinth · 19/12/2022 21:22

This is utterly appalling.

i would phone 999 and say she is losing consciousness and you are concerned for her heart.

No, don't do this.

Sugarplumfairy65 · 19/12/2022 21:37

Soapboxqueen · 19/12/2022 19:59

Imodium slows the bowels so would mean she wouldn't need to poo for a while

Show quote history

And in an elderly patient with an injury is likely to cause a blockage in her bowels. The last thing she needs

WinterBlanket2022 · 19/12/2022 21:38

Another one to say focus on her urgent needs, being able to bear the pain and talking to her, staying with her. If it’s OK to give her water, give her that also. (The reason not to is if she needs urgent surgery but it’s important she is hydrated)- phone 111 and ask their advice about feeding and drinking. If it’s OK to give her milk or food this can all help with coping with the pain. Phone her GP surgery.

Don’t move her, tell her not to worry about that and just to wee if she feels like it, all that can be dealt with later, what is most important is her. Put a blanket over her so she feels ‘decent’ and not embarrassed and replace if necessary.

EmmaAgain22 · 19/12/2022 21:39

Sugarplumfairy65 · 19/12/2022 21:37

And in an elderly patient with an injury is likely to cause a blockage in her bowels. The last thing she needs

Show quote history

Oh sorry
I took some when I had my spinal injury, luckily I had that in my bag

Now I carry a hip flask too!

Jellyjunction · 19/12/2022 21:40

Can you take her temperature?
It sounds like you're doing a brilliant job in impossible circumstances

katesbushh · 19/12/2022 21:40

I've not rtft but if her foot is either internally/externally rotated she has probably fractured her neck of femur.
It's a really common fracture in that age group and needs emergency care.

I would not want to move her but I might try and some inco pads/puppy pads under her by pulling them through.
And keep her warm.

This is appalling
Your poor aunt.

Jellyjunction · 19/12/2022 21:41

Also I'd say encourage her to drink clear fluids (water or black tea/coffee) as it won't delay her care and will help keep her hydrated.

katesbushh · 19/12/2022 21:41

Do you know any nurses/care home as friends who may come and help log roll her?

User963 · 19/12/2022 21:42

I’m so sorry. It’s just awful how long people are having to wait for an ambulance. When I broke my leg it felt like a lifetime but was probably only about thirty minutes and that was only five years ago.

DuchessDandelion · 19/12/2022 21:42

Once you've done all you can to make her physically comfortable, I would also pack an overnight bag ready so that she knows as she's finally treated, she had clean nightwear to put on.

Even if they decide to keep her in a hospital gown, psychologically I think it will help.