How long for an ambulance

[Tashyboy]

Me and Missis T went to the National Trust Southwell workshops today. Had an enjoyable day out however. During the guided tour an elderly couple walked out of the morgue we were in. We went outside a few minutes later and the old guy has collapsed/ fainted on the steps outside. As it turned out, with Tashyboy ex medical attendant, Missis T ex nurse, an ex doctor and two Red Cross employees there. Well there was plenty of assistance on hand. Turns out the guy had a pacemaker fitted last year, is on medication with it and has had a couple of episodes since . An ambulance was called and 35-40 minutes later the local first responder turned up. After an hour and 15 minutes the ambulance turned up. Now don't get me wrong the guy seemed OK when we left him, But 35-40 mins for the first community responder to turn up. She did not even know what she was attending. Bottom line is if he needed CPR he is now DEAD. Have the cutbacks in the ambulance service really got that bad that it is an acceptable practice that people could die. Not impressed at all.

 

[Imurg]

Finite number of ambulances battling against a, potentially, nearly infinite number of demands on their services.
It was probably decided that this demand was less serious than another and so got bumped down the list.
Had he needed CPR then, I suspect, he'd have been further up the list.
The NHS wastes vast amounts of money but, even with that cash back in the fold, you simply can't fully fund it.
Something/someone has to give.

 

[Blue in Munich]

If he'd have needed CPR he'd have been prioritised accordingly. Non-story.

 

[Hobbit]

About 8 miles from Newark, mostly country roads, you'd hope they'd be there as quickly as possible but I'd guess at least 20 mins. I assume the triage done by the 999 operator meant he was down the list. I would, however, question what the triage was if he has a history of heart problems.

 

[Tashyboy]

Imurg at the time of the 999 call going in no one really knew what they were dealing with. It was mentioned to the operator that the guy has had a pacemaker fitted, and it could be a heart problem. After twenty minutes it was established he had been stood for 20 -30 minutes and in essence had fainted. Raising his legs whilst laid down helped but it is the second time it has happened. Wasn't good to watch as a neutral.

 

[Tashyboy]

If he'd have needed CPR he'd have been prioritised accordingly. Non-story.

At the time they didn't know he needed CPR. Your "non story "flippant comment is crass at the least. The first responder did not even know what she was coming to. What's the point of giving all info to a phone operator if it's not passed on. My thoughts are. The fact said operator was told a retired dr and nurse are on site, shoved the priority down the list of people to attend. That's ok but a retired dr and nurse are not gonna do a great deal if CPR is required for 40 minutes.

 

[jim8flog]

One of the older guys at the golf club fell and dislocated his shoulder. Several people offered to take him to A & E (a 5 minute drive away) but he insisted on having an ambulance called. It was a Sunday afternoon and he was clearly considered very low priority so spent over two hours at the club waiting for one.

One fell over on a tee and was in considerable pain with no obvious diagnosis. An ambulance was called and arrived in 30 minutes.

I had a heart problem at home, first responder arrived within 15 minutes and the ambulance 5 minutes later.

One of the guys at the club had a suspected heart attack at the club ambulance arrived within 10 minutes.

They obviously prioritise when they have a lot of calls.

 

[Blue in Munich]

At the time they didn't know he needed CPR. Your "non story "flippant comment is crass at the least. The first responder did not even know what she was coming to. What's the point of giving all info to a phone operator if it's not passed on. My thoughts are. The fact said operator was told a retired dr and nurse are on site, shoved the priority down the list of people to attend. That's ok but a retired dr and nurse are not gonna do a great deal if CPR is required for 40 minutes.

Whereas your capitalisation of DEAD and build up is perfectly acceptable in your opinion. The guy clearly did not need CPR, he clearly has people with him who have medical experience and presumably have not indicated the need for CPR to the call centre staff and the call centre staff have triaged the call as non-urgent, yet you've tried to make a drama out of it. I'd suggest that is crass.

As others have pointed out and I have experienced on many occasions, one personally, if you're seriously ill and you need one they'll find one and send it PDQ. Your man didn't and as such it's a non story in my opinion.

 

[jusme]

Finite number of ambulances battling against a, potentially, nearly infinite number of demands on their services.
It was probably decided that this demand was less serious than another and so got bumped down the list.
Had he needed CPR then, I suspect, he'd have been further up the list.
The NHS wastes vast amounts of money but, even with that cash back in the fold, you simply can't fully fund it.
Something/someone has to give.

A clearly articulate and sensible answer. Nothing else needs added, but argue on

 

[Jamesbrown]

Guy at my old club fell over in the group in front. bloke in our group was an off duty paramedic, he managed to get an air ambulance and a paramedic car out within 20 mins.

They was slow in front, and I’d fallen out with the paramedic on the 7th hole so was a blessing.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

When I fell critically ill in April an ambulance was there within 10 minutes, undoubtedly saved my life.

My daughter slipped while walking near Weymouth, suspected broken ankle, (turned out to be sprained)
Ambulance took 2 hours as it wasn’t a life threatening situation.

Seems fair enough