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?

I'm sorry to hear that. Are you ok now?

It's wild that people arw defending the paramedics. It's literally their job to look after you. What excuse is there for why they needed to go ahead? None. They were there to support you and they failed in their duty. Please report them so their poor approach to patient care can be addressed.

I think because of when the neurological symptoms started and possibly other things I don't know about. I can't imagine the fall helped, though!

I can't believe that people think it was OK for the paramedics to just leave op to walk on her own when she had already fainted just before they arrived!

Some people would tell an op they were unreasonable whatever the op said I think!

It sounds odd but it's a thing some people do. Like look at me I managed to get this job, don't actually know anything, though. I've seen arrogant men do it before. That's what it came across as...but I admit I could be completely wrong, maybe he just was making it clear he didn't know about the meds so she didn't ask him about them.

Why do posters keep trying to excuse the paramedics by writing things like “its very unusual to cough and collapse…” or “they didn’t understand the situation “ (so OP snd GP are at fault.) Yes a medical crisis might be uncommon! That is why the GP called for an ambulance because SPECIAL CARE WAS NEEDED to move a patient with concerning symptoms safely to hospital.

These were not random good samaritans who stumbled into a confusing situation. They weren’t uber drivers. They were Paramedics with one straightforward job to do: don’t drop or lose the vulnerable patient between GP’s office and Hospital.

Fully agree. They should have at least been walking next to you!

I may be wrong about his attitude - it is quite hazy, but he was certainly very dismissive. I was trying to tell him my baseline and he wasn't interested. I know I was not probably the easiest to understand in the circumstances. The thing about whooping cough is lots of people are hospitalised with it so odd ambulance crew would have no idea, but that's fine. But don't make up information to the assistant. If you are teaching them you have to be solid on what you are teaching. I mean I proved him wrong but I shouldn't have had to. It took me bloody ages faffing on my phone to try and bring up the message from Public health too! 😂

Sorry, i meant when you fell for the second time and hit your head, it could have been worse. I didnt fall. Its obviously extreme but if u hit something sharp you could have died. You should definitely not say nothing.

It's a truth universally acknowledged (or should be!) that people will literally do anything to
a) disagree with the OP on MN
b) defend the sacred cow of the NHS.

Paramedics can be as likely as other people to be a bit crap at their jobs, unpleasant people, or just have an off day/moment. They aren't perfect saints beyond all earthly criticism.

Several actual paramedics and nurses have even commented saying the paramedics acted inappropriately and why, but tbh I don't think you even need any medical training to think that a) you should probably keep a bit of a close eye on someone who has very recently fainted, and b) it's not professional to talk about your patient where they can hear you!

@WatermelonWaveclub i am not sure if I would complain as I would feel worse if it wasn’t taken seriously or any action taken… which with the state of the nhs I have my doubts whether they would take it seriously. I think you absolutely should have been taken in a wheelchair or at least had someone by your side. I don’t know if this will make you feel better or less alone but I had a similar situation recently when I am ambulance turned up for our child. I was amazed by how shit they were frankly. Those saying they wouldn’t complain as if they’re doing the nhs a favour because they’re stretched - very sad that people allow this standard to continue. And I’m sure if it happened to them they’d think differently. In summary OP I would only complain if you can cope with the (likely) crap way they will address the complaint. Hope you are ok.

I phoned 111 and they sent me straight to my GP. I went in a taxi and got the taxi driver to help me in. I then had to flipping go upstairs and I think this was the problem! I realised the severity when it happened in the GP's room. I thought I was going to die, tbh. It's like nothing I've ever experienced. I know I haven't gone too much into this part because it still scares the life out of me. And isn't really relevant to them just walking off.

I did not 'happily' do anything! The crew were aware of the fainting as I told them and I'm sure my GP did too.

This is not an excuse.

If they have experienced something that means they can’t give good care to their next patient they need to see their manager and get time off. And if they were refused then it’s important the consequences of the manager’s actions in refusing are brought to light.

Thank you. By this point my GP and practice nurse had gone back to work, I think. GP definitely wasn't there. Would imagine nurse was getting on with other patients thinking the crew were looking after me.

Because when I awoke they hadn't noticed yet. No they didn't drive off without their patient - that would have been a new low! 😂

Yes you definitely should be sure if you're teaching! Not ok to be giving incorrect information to a student.

I'm very much of the opinion that medicine is a constant learning curve though, I'm the first to admit when I don't know about something. L

(Disclaimer- I do know all the things I need to know!!)

This
making a compliant is being assumed here by everyone the poster wants an apology or even compensation

but making a complaint is actually important to get information back to services to change their policies, Ways of working, and services. In this case a risk assessment failed, and the con sue new next time could be much worse.

it is not saying people deliberately didn’t do something, but there was a failure and lesson should be-learning no matter how small for continuous improvement

i went to a hospital in Scotland as I fell at work and works occ health was cncnered I’d broken something. Saw the doctor, he asked me to do some mobility, and I’m sure decided I wasn’t yelping in pain or distressed so declared that I’d just strained something. I drove home the normal 5 hours (was away on business) taking me over 8 due to pain I was in (elbow). Went to physio at work at home base 3 days later. She sent me to A&E with a note “ please give this lovely lady an x-ray this time”. It was broken . Quite a bad break actually.

I wrote a nice letter to the hospital in Scotland pointing out how doctor (I gave name) had missed it. Said I was not looking for apology or response, just for him to know he’d missed it so he could determine if there was naythib* he could learn form that . They wrote back thanking me for informing me and that it had been discussed in one of their meeting on how to improve assessment on whether X-ray is needed (in middle age age post meno women no doubt!). That was fine, a good result for writing in.

I wasn’t expecting doctor to prostrate himself, I certainly wasn’t going to sue them, stuff happens. But it’s important to see if we can learn from mistakes.

Pre-hospital care and the role of a paramedic in the UK is very different to the US, which is where I’m assuming you’re from given the terminology you’re using in your posts. The role is much more than simply transporting to hospital nowadays. Your posts imply a lack of understanding of the differences between the two countries.

Before you come at me, I have already advised the OP (twice) to send feedback to the ambulance trust in question.

Sorry to hear you were so unwell op. I would think an incident form would have to have been completed given that you bumped your head. So this should therefore be investigated. I don't think there's any harm in raising it though just in case they didn't complete one.

It was an acute illness - whooping cough.
So over about a week I was fainting numerous times a day. Probably about 50% of the times I would get up.
I was coping at home by moving things I could hurt myself on, crawling and trying not to get up.
I phoned 111 and they sent me to my GP. I got a taxi and they helped me inside.
Yes neurological obs too.
The GP did all the relevant checks, I believe.
The most severe fall I had was in the car park tbh. Falls at home onto carpet or fainting while having sat back down.
It happened in the GP's room. It was a TIA.
When the crew arrived one of the nurses was with me and then the GP came back to hand over.
I didn't need surgery in the end, luckily! I was in hospital for 5 days.

Yeah and I could have been their next horrific death. It's such a dangerous attitude.

This is controversial, but they didn't look after you properly. Your GP thought it appropriate to phone for an ambulance. The paramedics wrongfully thought they were over egging it. You ended up proving them wrong. Whilst you weren't injured, their care of you was inadequate. The controversial bit is that I'm a little bit fed up with being told to accept inadequate service from the NHS; just because its free at point of service, it doesn't mean we haven't paid for it though our not insignificant taxes.

I have answered that. I said the GP and nurse had gone back to work. One of the nurses probably saw us leaving. I'm not sure if there is CCTV in the carpark.

Retired nhs nurse here .please complain someone should have been with you .Its been an error but a preventable one .Glad you are OK and hopefully you get to the bottom of what's going on

It seems really negative to focus on this. Maybe feel gratitude and concentrate on getting well.