"lips must turn blue before an ambulance will come out"

[lljkk]

I've heard that claim a few times, about probable cv19 cases not being allowed to go to hospital.

Is it true or just hyperbole? I think it might be a gross exaggeration. Does anyone have a link to a real named person or even an NHS staff person saying this has happened?

I'm happy to see a SAD face in tabloids where someone is willing to not anonymously say it happened to themself or their loved one or their patient. I can't even find a tabloid story like that, though.

[Xenia]

Ella, yes I think it is bet people get driven to A&E although I bet that is not the state's advice as at all costs it wants to keep people away from access to health services. The NHS has always run on rationing and in a sense benign neglect which at times is not a bad thing - fewer C sections, less intervention when it is not needed but not always a good thing.

[NoClarification]

"DH couldn't go as we had our sleeping DC at home."

See I don't get this. If you think you need hospital treatment urgently enough to need an ambulance, would you seriously not bundle your sleeping DC into a car?!

Sometimes just people look for reasons they can't do something. There are clearly some people who absolutely couldn't get to hospital under their own steam (elderly, isolated), but otherwise? Knock on a random neighbour's door if need be! I'd drive a neighbour to hospital if they couldn't breathe and no ambulance was available!

[Lemonblast]

Ellapaella why would her husband not have been able to phone again?

[IfNotNowThenWhenever]

This from a paramedic upthread:
In the last month or so I have been sent to maybe 50 ?covid breathing difficulties and only about 3 have needed to go to hospital.
Really.
50 people were scared and breathless enough to call an ambulance and only 3 were actually admitted?
Well, there's the problem!
I bet if one of them had been the Prime Minister they would have been taken and given the effective treatment of Oxygen. Instead of being left til they were nearly dead and then (maybe) put on a ventilator.
It's fucking disgusting, the way the people who fund the NHS with their taxes are treated when we actually need to use it.
Given my and my families various appalling experiences at the hands of hospital staff over the years I have no trouble whatsoever believing the "blue lips" stories.

[circusintown]

@Frogshoe has he got a pulse oximeter? Hope he gets well soon but definitely should be using one

[Complexico]

Hopefully I'll continue to survive cause there's no help to be had.

So all those people who are telling us they are treating people are lying?

I hope you recover quickly but stop being such a drama llama.

[WatcherintheRye]

@lljkk

What is the difference between a care home and a nursing home?

As far as I'm aware, lljkk, a nursing home is for residents who have specific nursing needs - medical issues which require ongoing treatment. A care home is for those who cannot look after themselves

[justasking111]

A member on here said a friend had phoned 111 a number of times three times the parademics came out and went again because the ladies son was not deemed ill enough, he sadly died.

[Schuyler]

Unfortunately, waiting for an ambulance, even when there is a legitimate emergency, is nothing new.

Blue lips is one symptom. I do not believe that, as a general rule, lots of people are being told to wait until their lips are blue. However, I do believe some misguided call handlers may be giving this advice incorrectly, instead of advising people to look out for signs of increased distress, the message is occasionally being converted as “blue lips”.

FWIW, I’ve been taken to hospital twice via ambulance since the pandemic ramped up, although once was before lockdown and had a shortish wait and no problems.

[WatcherintheRye]

Pressed too soon!

Who cannot look after themselves or need support with personal care etc.

[WatcherintheRye]

Also a nursing home has to have a medically qualified staff member/s on the premises, whereas a care home does not.

[InglouriousBasterd]

Spoke to my friend (paramedic) about this the other day. She now has to call in to A and E from the job and the consultant decides if it’s worth bringing them in. She’s pretty traumatised by ones she has to leave at home.

[TartanTexan]

@inglorious the logic being they are not sick enough? If the NHS isn’t overwhelmed, & we’ve told it’s not, why?

[Porcupineinwaiting]

I have been ill for 38 days now @Complexico. I am still regularly struggling for breath and bed bound- on a good day I can shower and dress and make it downstairs to sit on the sofa for a couple of hours. Every few days I relapse and cant get out of bed at all. I have regular chest pains and severe muscle cramps as well as the "normal" things like chills and burning skin and burning lungs.

Maybe I'll just get better, maybe I'll get worse. No one knows, or cares to hazard a guess. Maybe you think its drama llama ish to want to know what the hell is happening to me but frankly I dont. I'm delighted I dont need oxygen but that doesn't take away from the fact that I can barely stand up.

[SuspensionWithoutSuspense]

@NoClarification

Yes, that's an option but I was isolating from the dc. Plus they're only little, they would've been terrified to be dragged from their beds to see their mummy gasping for breath and hallucinating. Then what does my DH do when we get there? Drag two young dc into hospital in the middle of the night, along with physically supporting me, as well as putting them at risk? Or kick me out to the kerb at the hospital entrance and drive off?

We can't ask neighbours for childcare if I have Covid!

[SuspensionWithoutSuspense]

@IfNotNowThenWhenever

Totally agree!

[SuspensionWithoutSuspense]

@Choccyp1g

Wow.

[circusintown]

"Plus they're only little, they would've been terrified to be dragged from their beds to see their mummy gasping for breath and hallucinating"

Yes, and that's terrible. Until your DH has to tell the children that they won't see their mummy again because he didn't want to wake them up.

Also no need to terrify them or "drag" them out of bed. If he needs to walk you into A&E and leave you there that's what he needs to do.

[Choccyp1g]

Choccyp1g Sun 26-Apr-20 14:34:39
Thing is though, all the people posting that they were refused hospital, are on here posting, so they did survive without going to hospital

I was being a bit goady there..
Replying to my own post, it strikes me that (most) people might not be in immediate danger if their lips aren't blue, but could be saved from a much longer illness and possibly the risk of long term problems if they were given oxygen like Boris was.

[Choccyp1g]

And anyway, some people do seem to be dying for lack of hospital care, which is outrageous if there is capacity.

[NoClarification]

Suspension your kids would be significantly less scarred by being carried into the car while half asleep than you leaving them motherless.

[NoClarification]

And as for when you get there, yes, he leaves you at the kerb or you wait the couple of minutes it takes to find a nurse or porter to come and help you in.

Like I say, if you look for problems you'll surely find them.

[Goatymcgoaty]

@Noclarification true. But understandable that it’s difficult to make balanced sensible choices and decisions when gasping for air, unable to stand and being blocked from an appropriate pathway by 111. Easy in the cold light of day when not in the midst of it all.

[Goatymcgoaty]

And as for when you get there, yes, he leaves you at the kerb or you wait the couple of minutes it takes to find a nurse or porter to come and help you in

My first ever



If this is what it takes, we may as well get rid of 111, no?

[Complexico]

@SuspensionWithoutSuspense No, your DH would not be allowed in the hospital. He would drop you off and take your children home.

@Porcupineinwaiting I know what it's like, but saying what you said about no treatment is goady. Get better soon, it's shit.