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Blood test nurse with NO appointment got firemen to damage door.Who pays?

440 replies

logiccalls · 03/12/2025 22:06

Someone who goes decades without any G.P. contact (being allergic to chemicals, and therefore never wanting to get pills) decided to get a private health MOT: The results were excellent, except for one which indicated it might be advisable to take a further blood test via the N.H.S.

The person was permanently disabled by a violent and stalking ex, therefore finds it difficult to get to a surgery, and asked them to send a home visiting nurse to do a blood test. This is a person made resilient by adversity, and keeping as healthy as possible, so with no history of mental problems or heart problems or anything else. (And even the requested blood test was resulting from a private MOT, which the NHS knew nothing about)

The GP has never been spoken to, just the receptionist, who promised to pass on the request for the blood test .

There was no further contact: NO appointment: No response: No email: No phone contact: No letter: No text.

Many weeks later, suddenly, a stranger had got into the block of flats, without using the intercom, and was agressively hammering on the flat door and trying to force the door handle to turn.

There was still no phone call, email or text. It could have been any intruder, inebriated, deranged or drugged. The occupant stayed silent.

The mobile phone rang, but with a witheld number, (which someone who has previously been stalked would of course never respond to.) Eventually, the stranger at the door went away. (There had been a parcel outside the door, before the stranger arrived, and as soon as she left, the occupant could at last open the door to retrieve it, and did so.)

An hour (?) later, a man was beating on the door as if to smash it in, and shouting. The occupant is deaf, but was obviously not going to open the door, to violent strangers, so again stayed silent. (But, because the parcel had been taken in, was clearly not lying unconscious on the floor for lack of a routine blood test, for which there had been NO appointment.)

The hammering on the door continued for hours, (?) and although the phone was constantly being rung, it was never used to send a text explaining there was any legitimate reason to attempt entry.

Later, it turned out the nurse had called the fire brigade, and it was their men taking over from her in battering the door. They then began to drill holes in the door.

The occupant had been unable to use the phone to try to get a lawyer, or to ring for any possible help from neighbours or the building caretaker. The 'number -witheld' calls were coming constantly.

With the flat's front door being destroyed, there was at last no choice for the occupant except to go to the door and call out "Who are you and what are you doing?"

A fireman explained who he was, and that there was a blood test nurse who had claimed that the occupant had "failed to attend an appointment for a blood test", which apparently he believed was justification for smashing the door. (?!)

a)There was NO such 'appointment'. b)The occupant had no idea who the nurse was, or the fireman was. c)Nobody texted.

But could it ever be reasonable to smash the door of someone for such a minor reason, for someone with no medical or mental illness history, and with evidence the person has taken in a parcel, so is obviously fit and well?

This is bullying and abuse of power, instigated by that extremely aggressive nurse, and enabled too readily by a fire brigade who were colluding in the constant phoning, yet never requesting a text should be sent, to a deaf occupant, to identify themselves or the blood test nurse, or to give information about the alleged "appointment".

(The medical records will not show much contact with the NHS, for decades, but there would be a note about deafness, so the fireman's statement that he had called out the word 'fireman' would not be justification to destroy a door.)

There is no house insurance. The front door is a security door and a fire door, so will be expensive to replace. Large holes have been drilled through it. Is it true, as the fireman suggested, that the NHS surgery will be liable to replace the front door?

OP posts:
Jane143 · 03/12/2025 22:54

Police will do this too if a concern for welfare reported. In this case it would be justified as ‘the person’ rarely leaves the house.
moral of the story is Answer the bloody door!

logiccalls · 03/12/2025 22:56

Hohofortherobbers · 03/12/2025 22:34

It was a reasonable response by the nurse, can you imagine the outrage if she'd left you for dead in the flat without any further action.
Im a nurse who's been in a similar situation, my patient was incredibly grateful i phoned the police when he did not attend his appt, they broke his door down and found him unconscious and close to death, 24hrs later it would have been too late. He did not mention anyone paying for his door, he bought me flowers.

Your man HAD an appointment. In this case there was NO appointment, just an extremely aggressive banging at the door, and NO text, email or contact.

OP posts:
AntiHop · 03/12/2025 22:56

Mydustymonstera · 03/12/2025 22:43

In most areas you can only get a home visit for a blood test if you are housebound.

being noted as housebound on the GP’s systems means that with no response from you, and presumably no next of kin details either, they have a duty of care to follow up and carry out the welfare check.

why would someone who is housebound, to the extent of being unable to get to a gp surgery, not be in their home? The natural conclusion is that you were there but unwell and needing assistance.

This exactly.

EddyNeddy · 03/12/2025 22:57

I’m not inclined to trust the account or judgement of someone who believes they are ‘allergic to chemicals.’ There’s clearly a lot more going on here - whoever this person is clearly acts in a way that is confusing to regular society which can lead to misunderstandings of this nature.

SauronsArsehole · 03/12/2025 22:59

you’re absolutely wrong on the no mental issues from trauma.

yes those individuals (I am one) are more resilient in that we can handle extreme stress better than most, deal with inhumane crap and crises without so much as breaking down and are often fiercely independent

but we do have mental health issues that need help and if not treated can have devastating consequences inc just not reaching your full potential.

all of the above is how complex PTSD can present because we learn early on no one but ourselves can help us. The independence, not relying on anyone, keeping to yourself. Not trusting professionals such as Drs.

it isn’t healthy, humans aren’t supposed to live alone. We’re social, herd animals and need a tribe to thrive. As your initial post has clearly shown, you’re not thriving because you didn’t answer the phone, didn’t answer the door nor did you Follow up with your own GP to check if the appointment had been booked after you yourself said you hadn’t heard anything. A typical person wouldnve called to see what was happening!

you need help and support.

justasking111 · 03/12/2025 22:59

I'm confused if a person is deaf how would they have heard the fireman through the door.

IndigoIsMyFavouriteColour · 03/12/2025 22:59

Sorry OP, I don’t think you can blame the nurse or the fire brigade for this one… should have answered the door.

Pistachiocake · 03/12/2025 23:01

Midgetgemsplease · 03/12/2025 22:17

Agreed. Not deaf. Deaf but could've phoned neighbours. None of it makes sense

You can have a hearing impairment (so be a member of the Deaf community) and still use a telephone. Lots of people I know, children and adults, do this.
I find the story surprising for many reasons; I wouldn't have thought the NHS would agree to do a blood test based from a result of a private MOT, at least not without the patient following up with the surgery rather than just requesting it. I know a few people who would like home tests due to disability/other reasons, and none of them get this (they wish they could). I also am surprised they'd shout "fireman"-no Fireman Sam jokes please, but after all the articles about the man sacked for allowing them to use the term, I'm just surprised.
Not saying I don't believe you OP, but if you're a carer for this person, I would definitely follow up with the GP reception team.

Jane143 · 03/12/2025 23:02

AntiHop · 03/12/2025 22:56

This exactly.

Agreed

Wonderknicks · 03/12/2025 23:03

No one is "allergic to chemicals"

Pollqueen · 03/12/2025 23:04

senua · 03/12/2025 22:29

People of MN: be warned. This is what happens when you don't answer the door.
Apparently.

🤣🤣🤣

Pistachiocake · 03/12/2025 23:04

justasking111 · 03/12/2025 22:59

I'm confused if a person is deaf how would they have heard the fireman through the door.

People can hear different frequencies. One Deaf child I know can hear men's voices better than women's, and hears men at the door calling out quite clearly, but if me or any of the other mums is there, not so much.

TootsMaHoots · 03/12/2025 23:07

I also agree with @Mydustymonstera

If say you are housebound, they expect you to be in.

Cars4Gov · 03/12/2025 23:07

How did the person get the private medical check?

Did the nurse and fireman call out and announce themselves? I would expect this. If deafness means you were unable to hear them it's just unfortunate and you should be grateful that they checked on you.

logiccalls · 03/12/2025 23:07

RudolphTheReindeer · 03/12/2025 22:20

How did they know there was a parcel outside the door before the stranger arrived? I don't believe the phone was being rung so constantly they couldn't call or text anyone. They must have had more reason to suspect there was a problem than someone simply not answering the door.

The friend who had left the parcel had used the intercom to get in, plus texted that she had left it outside, in a rush on the way to go to work. The recipient was at that time busy in another room, so didn't go instantly to take it in. But it was a very large bag, so impossible for the nurse not to see, while she was hammering. So she did know, when she came back with the firemen, that the occupant was well enough to take in a large bag. She was just being bullying and aggressive, and, frankly, deceitful to the firemen. But why not text? Why not text that there was going to be an 'appointment'? The person could have been out of the flat. An 'appointment' requires two parties to know about it.

OP posts:
Toothfairy89 · 03/12/2025 23:09

They didn't smash your door in because you missed a blood test, it was because you didn't answer your door or phone for apparently hours despite aggressive banging!

You are housebound and have had no contact with the NHS for years, the NHS have no idea how healthy you are only that you haven't accessed healthcare. They have no idea as to your mental state, and those are two red flags for mental health problems

From the nurses perspective you have an isolated, housebound patient (I.e. very likely to be home) not answering the door or phone for hours. Slightly dubious "allergy to chemicals". Very likely scenario is a fall and patient is unconscious, given reduced mobility, or perhaps anaphylaxic reaction to a chemical, a heart attack, a stroke, carbon monoxide poisoning. Perfectly healthy people can drop down dead

This should go on your house insurance. It's not the GP surgeries fault you have none

logiccalls · 03/12/2025 23:10

MissBattleaxe · 03/12/2025 22:21

Why would you ring a lawyer if someone was banging on your door?

You would, if your life had been threatened by a persistent stalker, who had nearly managed to kill you previously, wouldn't you?

OP posts:
TootsMaHoots · 03/12/2025 23:10

So she should have just left because a bag wasn’t there? Assuming that the housebound person must be fine because a bag was there and now was not there. That would go down well in the inquest.

Tili42 · 03/12/2025 23:13

Were there possibly lots of withheld number calls to try and arrange the appointment prior to the nurse coming around? It does all sound very strange. Why bother giving the surgery your number if you are not going to answer it 🤷🏻‍♀️ maybe a letter was sent and lost in the post? Yes I can understand by the time it got to people banging on the door they would be too scared to answer but seems the problem possibly stems from the fear of answering the phone. Nurses don’t usually have the facility to text a patient

Toothfairy89 · 03/12/2025 23:14

logiccalls · 03/12/2025 23:07

The friend who had left the parcel had used the intercom to get in, plus texted that she had left it outside, in a rush on the way to go to work. The recipient was at that time busy in another room, so didn't go instantly to take it in. But it was a very large bag, so impossible for the nurse not to see, while she was hammering. So she did know, when she came back with the firemen, that the occupant was well enough to take in a large bag. She was just being bullying and aggressive, and, frankly, deceitful to the firemen. But why not text? Why not text that there was going to be an 'appointment'? The person could have been out of the flat. An 'appointment' requires two parties to know about it.

Why didnt you text a neighbour for help? Or a friend? Get them to contact the police?

If you believed it was your stalker why would you just sit there with your door being aggressively banged on for hours and you phone allegedly being called constantly and not seek help?

The nurse was probably quite worried about you, she's not going to notice a parcel, or process that it's gone. She's thinking "fuck this vunerable housebound, disabled patient is not answering the door, or her phone, the lights are on she's probably fallen, or dead." She was trying to help you.

ThorsRaven · 03/12/2025 23:15

logiccalls · 03/12/2025 23:10

You would, if your life had been threatened by a persistent stalker, who had nearly managed to kill you previously, wouldn't you?

No. I'd be phoning the police.

If I thought someone was outside my door and was going to try and kill me, the last person I'd call is a bloody solicitor.

And I have a deranged ex who subjected me to 7 years of domestic abuse, and who threatened to kill me if I left. So I do have some idea of what deranged, abusive men are capable of.

LadyQuackBeth · 03/12/2025 23:15

There's no way that they can change the policy and leave vulnerable or potentially injured people unattended and not rescued because the occasional person might want to practice an insane level of avoidance.

This is not a resilient person, it's someone too traumatised to live a halfway normal life that needs a little bit more help and care. Get them some help and start by encouraging them to see that their actions have consequences. They can't complain about no appointment if they never answer the bloody phone.

It's good people cared enough to check, a positive.

prh47bridge · 03/12/2025 23:15

As others have said, there is no such thing as "allergic to chemicals". Water is a chemical. Salt is a chemical. Everything around us is made up of chemicals.

Regarding the door, the usual rule is that if the emergency services break down a door during a lawful entry to prevent harm (which is what appears to have happened here despite the emotive language used in the OP) or a serious crime, the home owner is liable for the costs. The emergency services are only responsible if they knock down the wrong door, e.g. the police have a warrant to enter No.46 but enter No.44 by mistake.

I can't see that the NHS surgery is liable.

AnnaMagnani · 03/12/2025 23:15

The person could have been out of the flat

Home phlebotomy is only for housebound patients. The sort of patients who only leave the house to be admitted to hospital.

As far as healthcare are concerned there was a vulnerable housebound patient inside the flat who wasn't responding.

AintNobodyHereButUsChickens · 03/12/2025 23:15

logiccalls · 03/12/2025 23:10

You would, if your life had been threatened by a persistent stalker, who had nearly managed to kill you previously, wouldn't you?

Uhh no, I’d call 999 as any sane person would. What’s a solicitor going to do if you’re in the process of being attacked?

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