My dd nearly died waiting for an emergency ambulance... the nhs is broken!

[finallyahappygirl]

Last Saturday my dd 8 woke up extremely poorly. She had a temperature of 39c and was complaining of a sore throat, I rang nhs 111 at 7:30am and was told I would be called by a nurse and I should not take her to a walk in centre or A&E due to the risk of her being infected with covid-19. Fast forward 12 hours my dd tried to get out of bed but collapses straight on the floor, she could not bear bright lights she couldn't not move her neck and everytime she spoke or cried she was screaming in total agony with the pain in her head. Her temperature had risen to 41c and she began losing consciousness.... I rang 999 and was advised that it sounded like meningitis and I was to strip her clothes off and try and cool her down. 5 minutes later I was rang back by a first responder who talked me through what to do and how to keep her safe, he then told me she was top priority and they were coming blues and twos but.... there were no available ambulances and he didn't know when one would become available. I totally lost it at this point sobbing down the phone that my baby is dying I don't know how to save her. He apologised profusely but said she is top priority and they will be with us when they can.... 5 minutes later she lost consciousness completely and we couldn't wake her at all even nipping her ear she didn't come round. I frantically dialed 999 only to be told very rudely there was still no ambulances and what were they meant to do. I said I would take her in my own car and they said that was too dangerous due to the state I was in and the likely medical treatment she needed immediately. 1hour and 20 minutes later the ambulance turned up my daughter still unconscious my eldest dd in hysterics thinking her baby sister had died. My partner in complete shock!!! My daughter has meningitis and thankfully is now on the mend but the outcome could have been so different it does bear thinking about really.
I totally appreciate we're in a pandemic but surely the nhs shouldn't be this broken where children's lives are being put at risk!!! Wtf has happened to this countries priorities?? Why have the government let things get to this point??

However I am glad that people are piling on to the OP. Maybe NEXT time she will know that she needs to do whatever it takes to get on top of her panic and drive her child to the hospital. If that means right now learning some techniques to help her cope with panic, then that is what she needs to do. Sympathising will not help her learn to cope. It will keep her helpless

Are you an HCP? If you are, you are a disgrace to the profession and need further training. However, with such a ridiculous and ignorant comment I suspect you aren't.

OP, you did entirely the right thing. Those of us who ARE HCPs can see that. You can't drive and keep a check on someone breathing. Being unconscious yet breathing needs to be watched in case that changes at which point the call handler would have talked you through commencing CPR.

The keyboard warriors on here are FAR more likely to endanger their children by not following the advice of people who are trained and spend every day dealing with this. You did the right thing staying put. It could well have saved her life

OP probably froze and thought if they set off in car and it takes them longer to get there than waiting for the ambulance it could be worse. Especially if she was told not to drive.

She probably thought they’ll be hear in a min and sadly that turned in to hours.

the police

The police are already massively used for patients with MH issues as there is barely any MH provision where I am despite a massive incidence of it. It's a dire situation all round.

OP, you did entirely the right thing. Those of us who ARE HCPs can see that

Agreed.

I put the thread in coronavirus as due to them believing it was covid-19 and how access to drs at the moment is very difficult especially if you have a high temp sore throat etc... had this of happened a month ago I'm sure I would have seen a dr within a couple of hours of ringing 111. I'm not a frequent poster and most certainly will not be posting again.

If only labour voters got priority over Tory voters for ambulances and other essential public services!

Honestly shame on some of your responses here. What happened to that be kind message? Lets hope you all act perfectly if that sort of scenario happens to you.

O/P you absolutely did the right thing.

And to all the HCPs on this thread, thank you, thank you so much for all the work that you do.

However I am glad that people are piling on to the OP. Maybe NEXT time she will know that she needs to do whatever it takes to get on top of her panic and drive her child to the hospital. If that means right now learning some techniques to help her cope with panic, then that is what she needs to do. Sympathising will not help her learn to cope. It will keep her helpless.

My god

Away you go and sit in a corner or something.

If only labour voters got priority over Tory voters for ambulances and other essential public services!

@AnotherEmma what a despicable thing to say. Utterly childish and nasty.

This may have been answered and I'm sorry your dd has been so poorly. But if you first rang 111 at 7.30am and your dd was deteriorating, how many times did you call back to escalate?

OP, you did entirely the right thing

You did. I'm so glad your daughter is okay, wishing her a speedy recovery. That must have been very frightening and traumatic, for all of you. Please try and take time to recover, be gentle with yourselves.

How about Tory voters jump the queue for essential services because they put the govt in power.

See how nasty it sounds.

The left are actually the most nasty and intolerant vicious people I've met but they say that about Tory voters.

It has nothing to do with the government. It is probably due to people calling ambulances when they aren't needed so that when people do need them, they aren't available.

Ha! Yes, nothing whatsoever to do with the years of underfunding

And all this "I would have done xyz.." OP was told what to do by the call handler and she followed their advice. Seems pretty sensible to me.

OP I'm glad to hear your dd is on the mend, it must have been terrifying

I said I would take her in my own car and they said that was too dangerous due to the state I was in and the likely medical treatment she needed immediately.

What actually happened.

Do people really think that time wasters who use 999 like a taxi service actually get any further than the call handler?!

As for the ones who asked if OP updated on her child's condition: OP was hold that her call was the priority but still had a long wait. It's what the fucking thread is about. Read it.

OP I'm so sorry for you all, what an ordeal.

The voting labour comment was in response to someone asking who I voted for!!! Christ what is wrong with people? So many aggressive people who must lead such perfect lives. I hope none of you are ever in this kind of situation!

finally it's fast going down hill around here. Think more people are lashing out than usual. How anyone can think you deserve nothing but sympathy beats me. You've highlighted a real issue that many wouldn't have known about. You're the messenger and you're being shot at.

And all this "I would have done xyz.." OP was told what to do by the call handler and she followed their advice. Seems pretty sensible to me

The ironic thing is that all the blowhards on this thread castigating the OP, are the people who are a major cause of NHS problems - they don't listen to official advice and think they know better. Then they wail about how they "didn't know and thought I was doing the right thing" when their loved one ends up in a far worse position.

The people trained to deal with it DO know. I can never work out why these arrogant idiots phone for help in the first place when they already think they know best.

Oh god. I'm so sorry OP. Fuck the people who are giving you shit about this. This is one of my worst nightmares re covid - that something else happens to someone I love and there aren't the resources to deal with it it gets missed. That was happening already due to chronic underresourcing, its going to get much worse. I'm so glad your dd is ok.

@finallyahappygirl ignore them. I once got a bashing on here for posting about my son being bullied. Apparently it was my fault for allowing him to have the hairstyle he wants and looking gay because he is. There are some nasty people on here who must enjoy kicking others when they’re down. It says more about them than your understandable actions today so don’t bite to their bait and just pay attention to the supportive comments you’ve had from the others.

I've update the thread several times with regards to how many times I rang throughout the day and also after initially calling 999. I've also updated on her condition.

The people trained to deal with it DO know. I can never work out why these arrogant idiots phone for help in the first place when they already think they know best

OP had to wait an hour and 20 minutes for an ambulance.
For someone like myself that lives 15 mins from a hospital, I could of been there with over an hour to spare!! Why would you wait for that amount of time when you can get help sooner!
And before someone says you need to monitor her breathing and can’t do that while driving. She’s mentioned having a partner there! She could of drove and he could of monitored her.

my god, the illiterate arseholes on this thread!

@finallyahappygirl

Ignore the horrible people saying horrible things on this thread. What happened to you and your daughter is utterly terrifying, no wonder you are feeling traumatised. Fingers crossed your daughter will make a complete recovery. While the coronavirus spreads children are still as susceptible as ever to sepsis and meningitis, it is a very very scary time. Do not feel guilty for doing what turned out to be the right thing for your daughter. You followed advice, it was a nightmarish time waiting, but they got there and they saved her life. Who knows how things have ended if you had jumped in the car. Look after yourself at this very difficult time.

Oh I am so sorry you went through this must have been so terrifying I can't imagine! I think when they are telling you not to take her because of what's going on you weren't to know what to do ! They should have definitely let you take her in if they weren't going to send an ambulance !! So glad she is better now xx