To think an ambulance should have been called?

[TotoroElla]

Can someone tell me what protocol should be followed in supported accommodation if someone has a fall (unwitnessed - they were heard falling in their room) and shortly afterwards they are found extremely drowsy/non-responsive?

I'm in the middle of trying to make a complaint and still waiting to talk to the manager 6 weeks later. The member of staff involved is still working. The manager just said to me today all procedures were followed correctly and will send me an appointment to speak about it. I want to be prepared to challenge her.

Thanks

not enough information to go on

Drowsy and non responsive are two different things. So which one was it? Also, did the person have any signs of injury afterwards? Did they ask for an ambulance to be called? Did they see a first aider?

BTW, my stepfather is in a care home and regularly has falls. They’ve only called an ambulance once, because he cut his face and is on blood thinners.

Any sign of a head injury? Did the person have an ACP/FCP in place? I wouldn't expect an ambulance to be called automatically in a case like this - but would expect GP/ nurse follow up.

“and shortly afterwards they are found extremely drowsy/non-responsive?”

on that info I’d have called an ambulance.

I think it depends also on what the person is normally like, what actions actually were taken i.e were they left or did someone stay with them and observe them etc etc

Firstly are you the next of kin of the person involved? If you are I would ask for a copy of the procedure and all documentation regarding the incident. However if you are not next of kin or the person involved does not consent then they will not give you these documents.

It’s never black and white. With the little you’ve said then on balance I’d say more yes than no (eg iStumble, which some residential facilities use, would say it would fall under U for Unusual behaviour). But you clearly think they should have, and they clearly think they were right not to have.

Was any harm done?

Non responsive - couldn't be woken. They couldn't ask for one to be called as not awake. They weren't seen falling so a haken dead injury should be presumed. Don't know about first aider. But member of staff just left them alone in their room. Told me 'he's foaming at the mouth - I think he has taken something despite no evidence that had happened.

well, I fell over yesterday, and went to sleep last night. It could all be something or nothing, from the details you have given.

Could have had a head injury as not seen fall. No ACP. Not elderly so no particular reason for a fall.

I phoned 999 as soon as I saw him and they sent one in 5 minutes.

Young, fit and healthy. They were just left in their room alone.

Yes, I am next of kin.

Yes an ambulance should have been called on the basis that nobody saw the fall, head injury couldn’t be discounted and he was unresponsive after the fall. Frothing at the mouth too?!

I worked with young people in supported accommodation and we would have been expected to call an ambulance in that scenario.

They were taken to hospital for checks and luckily they were ok. My concern is what if next time someone has had a head injury/stroke/heart attack and they are just left in their room unconscious.

It could be, exactly. Which is why protocol should be followed.

Not that I am any great expert, but I think it sounds like an ambulance should have been called.

Young fit healthy and unresponsive after fall? Yes, I would expect an urgent response

She mentioned that 111 had been called but who knows what they were told. I called 999 explained the situation and they made me constantly monitor his breathing until the ambulance had arrived.

There should be a risk assessment and policy related to falls in the setting.

The night shift comprises of 1 person who just left him in his room. I arrived and went and saw him and I asked if an ambulance had been called - he said 'of course'. I went back to check on him and waited a few minutes then came back down to check when the ambulance would be coming. He was on the phone (to 111 presumably.) I waited a few minutes then dialed 999. There was no ambulance on it's way.

That is what I thought. I guess I need to ask to see these.

I think it depends on the places policy.

Where my mum was living before any unwitnessed fall they called an ambo.

So you were with them at the Time just after?

Mine was injured and needed surgery for it but made their own way to hospital wiyh me as they initially appeared not bad to staff. I wouldn't call an ambulance just for a general fall and don't blame the staff for not requesting an ambulance. They did initially appear fine. Things can change quickly.