Would you make a complaint about these paramedics?

[WatermelonWaveclub]

I went to my GP the other day as I kept fainting when coughing. The GP said my HR was sky high. Then I coughed and fainted in front of the GP. Afterwards I couldn't move my legs properly. She phoned the hospital who said I need an ambulance. The GP got someone to get me in a wheelchair and take me to the nurse's room where I was put on a bed in a cubicle.

Anyway a few minutes later the ambulance crew turn up (3 of them). They did an ECG - ok but tachycardic. I said my legs were feeling ok by then. They did a lying and standing BP and checked I could feel both sides of my face, could hold both arms up, checked pupils etc. So they say they need to take me to hospital. They start heading off and so I follow them on foot. They're all walking ahead of me, chatting away, not one seeing if I'm ok. So consequently we get into the car park - I have a coughing fit and next thing I know I'm waking up on the car park floor.

I can't stop thinking about it. Were they at fault? Should they have used a wheelchair or at least someone walked with me? At the hospital they wouldn't even let me go to my scans etc in a wheelchair, I had to be taken in my bed. So if GP and nurse wouldn't let me walk was it right that the paramedics did?

Bump

When you say at fault, what do you mean? Are you thinking of suing?

If your obs were good and you said your legs were fine, walking to the ambulance seems ok to me. I have also been walked to an ambulance so I think its ok, but if you are worries raise a query with the trust.

I wouldn't. They had just carried out a series of comprehensive checks on you and whilst it was unfortunate that you had a further coughing fit they were there to tend to you.

No, I don't think they should have let you walk. But I think that maybe they just made a mistake, possibly because there were three of them (everyone feels less responsible when there are more of you).

what were their reactions like when you fell? Were you injured?

The checks were all ok, you said you felt OK.

I'm sorry you are unwell, and hope the drs can help you asap. I wouldn't fixate on this.

No. I wouldn't complain

I think walking to the ambulance was fine given you were feeling ok and obs were fine but they should have been walking with you I would say at the very least. If no injuries were sustained as a result of fainting onto the car park floor then I wouldn't put in a formal complaint. By all means, write a letter to the trust explaining what happened and how you were put at risk- I think they possibly thought that a member of staff from the GP surgery was walking with you?

Yes, but that's their job, and they didn't actually do it properly they should have seen her SAFELY to the ambulance, they decided she needed to go to the hospital!

Did they actually tell you to walk?
To just follow along?

Could they have expected for you to wait and they would have come back after stowing equipment etc?
Did you query it at the time - if you still felt unwell surely you told them?

I wouldn't.

i don't think there was anything wrong with them making you walk. As another poster says, your OP's were fine and you said your legs were fine. Once you'd had another episode and it was clear it was not a one off it was different I guess.

I do think someone should have walked next to you though.

Personally I would not complain. I'd ask myself why I followed them on foot and did not say I cannot make it I need to use a wheelchair to be honest.

You said your legs were OK and so was your BP so I assume they thought you were OK to walk. If they were polite and respectful when treating you I would assume no malice.

Of course one of them should have walked with you. If it had been explained to them that you were fainting when coughing you should have been on a stretcher despite your obs being fine. Their job is to keep you as safe as possible until you get to hospital. Baffled why anyone thinks otherwise.
However, I would let it go. Nothing will come of it if you put in a complaint so concentrate on getting better.

I think that you should contact PALS. Sometimes policies need to be reviewed. As does training (which isn't always adequate). A fall can kill, as well as break bones.

Could they have been going to the ambulance to get a chair/stretcher to transport you. I would have waited for them to return not followed behind.

I would not complain just concentrate on getting well.

Did they suggest they were getting the trolley from the ambulance or asking the surgery if they had a wheelchair

This. Doesn't sound like they asked you to follow them? They start heading off and so I follow them on foot. They're all walking ahead of me, chatting away, not one seeing if I'm ok.

they say they need to take me to hospital. They start heading off and so I follow them on foot.

As others are suggesting, it's not clear from this that they knew you were behind them. Did they say "come with us" or did they walk off and you decided to follow them?

I've asked my mate who is a paramedic and no, they shouldn't have let you walk and they shouldn't have walked ahead, if they wanted to let you walk they should have had to people either side of you.

I agree now that It does sound like they didn't expect you to follow.

If they were going to fetch a stretcher, not all of them would have gone and even if they had, they would have explained to the OP where they were going instead of just disappearing without a word.

This is what happened to me when I needed to walk to an ambulance. It wasn't far but I wasn't left alone at all.

having you faint behind them would hopefully be enough of an “oh shit” moment to prompt them to think/act differently next time. I just think a formal complaint is a bit harsh here.

They shouldn't have let you walk alone with their backs to you and they should have got a wheelchair/stretcher. If they were going to do that, it shouldn't have taken all 3 of them either. Someone should've explained and stayed with you.

Is it worth complaining? Probably not. Hope you're health issues are resolved OP.

Ditto. They put their arms under my arms and walked very slowly out to the street in my pyjamas whilst I felt like dying.