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 think what’s happening here is that people are so grateful for the NHS and for the ‘free’ healthcare, that as soon as you mention any wrongdoing on their side people will jump up to defend them no matter how ludicrous the argument.

They are fallible. Their staff make mistakes. They can sometimes be negligent. They can be rude.

Yes we are very fortunate and blessed to have a wonderful healthcare in the U.K. However I do not think that makes it ok to negate someone’s personal experience when harm and distress has been caused by negligence.

Op clearly the paramedics did not look after you properly. If you have the energy then make a complaint. I doubt it will go anywhere but somebody should explain the importance of keeping a patient safe from further harm when with them. It’s pretty basic really. I hope you’re better soon.

Sometimes patients do get confused and they should have been able to deal with that. How do you know I wasn't asked? They could easily have guided me back to bed until the trolley came. If they thought I needed a trolley why would they be happy me walking unassisted and unsupervised. It makes no sense.

OP, you were the best placed to make the decision on whether to walk or not.

Yes, thank you. This was last week. I'm home now and on the mend.

I've changed my mind OP I do think you should put in a complaint to PALS, there needs to be better training on communication with patients at the very least.
I can never understand why, on these types of threads, people try and catch the OP out, or gaslight about what a paramedics job actually entails. Can someone shed any light on why they jump to blame the OP?
The paramedics were wrong. Why is anyone trying to justify it? Have we come to expect nothing from people who have spent years in training?

If they’re ambulance crew (the majority are) they’ve had 6 weeks training. Just FYI.

Paramedics need degrees and 2 years post-qual experience to become registered paramedics. Ambulance crew get 6 weeks but are all over the NHS contracts.

I was seriously unwell, frequently losing consciousness and confused. I was in no position to make any kind of decision.

Imo you should report it. It isn't a good enough standard of care and shouldn't be ignored.

The one taking the lead was in a tech role but mentioned his paramedic training.

But putting that aside I think it's just very basic common sense to assist a patient who is likely to faint on the way to the ambulance.

Well that is very much not true. That’s the whole point of having trained professionals in medical situations. To make those decisions for you.

Quite.

You were lucky they turned up when they did. In my experience if an ambulance is called by the surgery they don't come that quickly as they know there are medics on the premises, defib and oxygen. The nurse would have done no check, ecg and other obs whilst you were there before they arrived. The paramedics would also have been given a background, firstly from the 999 call and an update when they attended.

Ex-ambulance EMT here. If you’d been my patient there’s NO way would you have been walking anywhere with your recent history! Access and egress can sometimes be restricted and so adaptions need to be made, but you were in a medical centre! And there was a wheelchair right there!! Very poor practice imo and it definitely should be highlighted. Hope you’re feeling better soon. 💐

They were negligent, let's be honest.

Not one of them was even walking with you to check you would be OK or not.

I would complain. You could've fainted again and hit your head on the car park.

"I would complain. You could've fainted again and hit your head on the car park."

She did.

OP I work for the ambulance service, on their main website there will be a section for comments, compliments and complaints. It's a form you fill out and someone from the patient experience team will be in touch to discuss further, like you said, this is a learning opportunity, and they WILL want to know about it. Glad you are back home

The nurse didn't have time to do Obs/ECG as ambulance arrived so quickly. GP had done Obs prior and a neurological assessment which was concerning. And yes, they were given all the information.

I think a constructive complaint is the way to go. If only for it to show that patients aren't aware of procedures so wouldn't know if they were expected to wait or go with the ambulance staff.

I'm glad you are on the mend and I hope you've found out what is causing this 💐

Thank you, I'm on the mend 😊

Absolutely they should have been supporting you to the ambulance! I would highlight it as it shouldn’t have happened and shouldn’t happen in the future.

Hope that you are on the mend.

You're making it sound as though Op fainted just to be annoying. Why the aggression?

If you are a medical professional called to take someone who has fainted to hospital its not rocket science to take some basic precautions during transport to try and limit them from further injuring themselves in case they faint again!

Posters trying to blame the Op!

She was obviously very unwell & was being taken to hospital by ambulance called by her GP during an appointment which arrived promptly!

Of course she should not have been left at any time!

I mean .... how many people here would just walk off across the car park and away from ANYONE who was feeling unwell and heading to the ambulance to go to hospital?

Your mum?
A child?
An elderly person?
Someone having fainting fits?

You walk off in front of the patient you're taking to hospital while nattering to your mates??

Just no! It's piss poor care.

Surely you don't have to be trained not to turn your back and walk in front of some one who's been fainting ???!

Isn't that basic compassion or at least common sense?

and the posters here tying themselves in knots to excuse it .... !

You can for Non-Emergency transport. However, a call to a GP surgery would always generate a response from a front line crew so in OPs case there would have been an EMT or above present.

And, again, Non-Emergency crews are held to the same standards of care as paramedics or EMTs. Just a different scope of practice.