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?

Why not contact the GP surgery if you are unsure whether to make a complaint - they may have witnessed the incident and be able to provide further advice

Nonsense, is it?

Yes. If they have the relevant crew on board. Same as an NHS ambulance. And SJA crews are MINIMAL compared to the NHS crews working each day.

One more thing- you said earlier paramedics have to have a degree. That's not true either.

You clearly only have half the facts so please stop telling people that in an emergency they won't be getting a qualified crew.

They were aware when she had a coughing fit, which comes on randomly, that she faints. Even with a common garden cold often a change in atmosphere brings on a coughing fit. They should have been mindful of this despite her obs being okay. They were neglectful and yes I would complain. It was their job to look after the OP and they didn't, as a PP said.

Thank you, that's very kind. I must admit I learnt a lot about the different roles that I didn't know from that ambulance ride.

The lead one was a 'tech' but apparently had, had paramedic training. He seemed quite proud of his lack of knowledge, proudly telling the assistant? he had no idea what my meds were. It was odd. Almost like showing off.

Would you mind telling me your reason for getting me to walk to the ambulance? I'd like to know to help me understand. GP thought I needed a wheelchair, nurse thought I needed to be lying down on a bed. So it would be interesting to know why ambulance crew think I should be walking.

I am at home and recovering now, thank you 😊

As highlighted, it clearly states that the DJA crew is responding WITH a frontline crew to back them up or possibly get there first with a defib and an NHS crew en route.

I was lucky someone came? That suggests I didn't deserve anyone to come. Did your DH deserve anyone to come?

They clearly felt it was an emergency hence coming so quickly (and it was.)

That made me laugh 😂 I mean after I'd deliberately passed out, thereby inconveniencing them further I'm surprised too!

I'd make a constructive complaint via PALS.

If they were going to get a chair/trolley, that doesn't take three people and a clear 'wait there don't move we'll be back' would have been given even if it HAD required the whole crew to fetch it.

I have done this (once, in all the times I have had to call an ambulance, which with a dodgy ticker and lots of co-morbidities, is a fair bit)...

In my case, a paramedic took it upon himself to berate me, at length, for not taking a medication regularly that he had decided I ought to take daily, and had mistaken what that medication was.

So there I am, in severe pain (gallstones), naked in bed with a strange man in my room shouting at me, because he thinks I've not been taking a steroid I should have every day.

In fact he'd mistaken a diuretic I am to take 'as and when' (How I do not know and I am not on any steroids!) which I of course have not been taking every day as I only need to take it occasionally.

He was pretty dismissive and unpleasant, which got worse when I refused the gas and air (makes me spew, particularly when already feeling rough, particularly when travelling backwards in a fucking ambulance) - he kept making nasty comments about people not taking medication being a drain on the NHS! I had the gas and air, threw up (all the medication I'd swallowed half an hour ago when it was due) and this displeased him even more!

PALS took it to the ambulance lot who sent a decent letter of apology and told me more training had been given. Such an event has never happened since!

I definitely could have misunderstood what I was meant to do. However there was a wheelchair in my cubicle and they were aware I was following them and didn't guide me back to the cubicle.

I'm recovering, thank you.

No where does this say that they are not technicians or paramedics!! Nationally there are very few instances that a non clinical (no paramedic or technician) team can be sent to a 999 call and they must be immediately backed up by a clinical crew.

Posting random articles doesn't change this.

Are you saying the op shouldn't have had an ambulance turn up to care for her?
Or that she was lucky she had one there so tough luck that she wasn't treated properly?

Ambulances are called because someone needs emergency help. It doesn't matter who or what the situation is, if it is an emergency, it is an emergency.

Crews, regardless of whether they are a trained paramedic or not should be fully looking after their patient. The patient should never be blamed for an emergency that needs attention and that all staff involved in the care should be making sure it is as safe as possible for the patient.

I hope you're feeling so much better op, I imagine it has been very scary for you. I would complain, not on the grounds for monetary gain but for future trainjng so that others aren't put in the same situation you were put in.

So not only you would make someone walk who is highly likely to fall you wouldn't even try to catch their fall. There's more to walking than just legs!

No because they held the door open for me when coming out the nurses clinic so knew I was there. They didn't at that point guide me back to my cubicle.

BronwenTheBrave · Today 15:09
"Sue them. See if you can get them sacked."

As you well know the OP is not asking for any such thing. Why make such a ridiculous comment,

That suggests that SJA aren't doing these calls alone but alongside other HCPs.

It was not unreasonable for you to walk - but to leave you walking on your own is not acceptable.

I think like most fields, some are great and some absolutely couldn't care less. The ones who took my sis to hospital as she was in the process of dying behaved appallingly really (and we did raise concerns, not in a get them in trouble way, but that maybe some procedures needed looking at, and it may make them reassess their attitude towards people) yet the ones who came for my elderly mum after a fall that broke her hip couldn't have been nicer or more professional, really lovely ladies.

From what you have said I would raise the concerns yes, otherwise who knows what the complacency could do to someone else in the future.

But they didn't.

At least one of them should have walked with her

Not the point

Someone should have walked with her

Of course you can!

What do you think the repercussions might have been if the OP had been seriously hurt when she fell on their 'watch'?

I don't think you can complain. The hospital has a policy of people coming in from ambulances being in a wheelchair and they have a supply of wheelchairs for this purpose. The doctors surgery doesn't have a wheelchair and the paramedics could have put you on a stretcher but they'd checked you, tests said you were fine and you said you were fine.

Allowing you to walk was ok.

Walking so far ahead of you, talking to each other and not paying attention to you wasn't. It's that simple.

It could be they need further training, a reminding of protocols or it's a wider/trust issue a change of protocols.

It's not the end of the world if you complain as it's an easy fix and it will prevent other patients getting seriously injured in a similar situation.

Of course she can. You watch the patient. As soon as they arrived on the premises, OP was in their care. At least one of them should've walked with her.

Whenever I called an ambulance for my late DH, they always bought in a trolley or chair. But, I guess they thought you were pretty much ok. And made a mistake.

I would forget suing - welcome to the NHS 2024.🙄