Your experiences of emergency services

[HarrietD]

Hi everyone,

Our Campaigns and Partnerships team are working nationally with the Emergency Services (police, fire and ambulances) and want to find out the views and opinions of people affected by dementia.

They'd like to hear about your experiences - both positive and negative - with the police, fire and ambulance services. Specifically any challenges you might have had, and to find out what would be important for you to feel supported.

Your thoughts

Can you share your experiences of interacting with the Emergency Services and tell us what happened (whether this was good or bad)?

Please also tell us if there was anything you thought could have been done that would have helped you in your situation.

This thread will close on Friday 20th October.

Thanks all

 

[Philbo]

Hi

As well as caring for my wife (PWD), I suffer from Addison's Disease, which is a life threatening condition that affects my adrenal glands (anyone interested can Google it).

People with this can experience adrenal crisis (usually brought on by another trauma, illness etc, such as vomiting bug), which is potentially life threatening. The AD Support Group I belong to (ADSHG) have done a huge amount of work with the ambulance authorities over the years to try and help raise awareness of this rare condition.

A big issue (and one which would also apply to seeking improvements in the response to incidents involving dementia patients) is the lack of uniform procedures and processes across the UK. Each of the many ambulance trusts have a different way of doing things (sometimes even within their own organisations). So trying to get joined up processes to include the other emergency services is a very big ask!

I had already registered with my own ambulance trust (some call it red flagging, others register Patient Specific Instructions) so any ER personnel should be aware of my condition if attending my home location. I have now added details that I am full time carer for my wife and that she could not be left alone.

Fortunately, I've not had to call upon their help (yet) but from the ADSHG forum posts, it is hugely hit and miss across the UK - despite the work to raise awareness over many years.

One thing that Kent Police are trialling, is a process where you can register people who are "At Risk of Going Missing". Effectively, what you do is to fill out a Person Details & Life History Form. This allows the creation of a ghost missing persons report. So, if the worst happens, when you report it, the police already have most of the information (saving a lot of time and effort) and get actively involved (resources permitting, of course). Not sure if other forces have the same or not.

Hope this helps.

Regards
Phil

 

[nitram]

>>>guardian angel<<<< is a device available in many formats.

Basically it is a device that when read by any NFC enabled device gives the bearer's name and a contact phone number.

Many LAs subsidise the purchase, some provide it FOC, if you apply for one you will get a price according to your location..

I think it is a brilliant device.

Disclaimer.
No association.

 

[Selinacroft]

Our Local Authority who provide the lifeline service now include picking people up from falls provided they are on the floor (would not help me get Dad up from settee as couldn't use their magic chair) but this service has saved me calling out the emergency service at least 5 times so far I would say, when what I need is a second pair of hands not a full blown paramedic assessment. As they are local and just for our town they always arrive quickly.

 

[HarrietD]

Thanks Philbo, nitram and Selinacroft for your comments

Just a reminder that this thread will close tomorrow so there's still time to share your experiences or thoughts.

 

[HarrietD]

Hi everyone,

Just to let you know that we've reopened this thread and extended the original deadline of 1st August to Friday 20th October. If you have experiences of the emergency services that you'd like to share, please comment below.

Thanks,

Harriet

 

[SnowWhite]

My mum fell outside my house about 6 weeks ago. I dialled 999 immediately as she was screaming in pain and is 93. We waited 1.5 hrs for a paramedic and then another 1.5 hours for an ambulance. So in total she was laying on concrete in pain for 3 hours. The ambulance took another hour to get to hospital. I have complained to the ambulance trust and await their reply. I have no complaints about the staff just the length of time we had to wait.

 

[love.dad.but..]

When we found Mum had died suddenly at home both the police and paramedics had to respond, Dad was in moderate stage and very confused about the circumstances. Both arrived quickly and were very kind and patient with Dad who obviously didn't make much sense, hard for us to deal with let alone dementia dad. In recent years in his nursing home staff called the ambulance on 4 occasions, two falls with injury and 2 serious illness related. They were prompt and on each occasion very kind and patient with dad and except for the final time that began his end of life when he was less communicative with us all...they treated his frightened verbal and physical reaction with compassion...so guess we were fairly lucky

 

[Spamar]

Had to call for help twice after slightly bigger Tia's than usual. I used 111 both times. The first time the first responder was here within minutes ( I live in a small village not close to any main hospital). He was able to hear the slurring which was passing as speech. The ambulance came, max 10 mins, and OH was carted off to hospital. The second time, it was just the ambulance. Again they came pretty quickly and took him to hospital.
In both cases I couldn't have wanted for a better service. All were understanding of OHs condition and respected that.
It might have been that both calls were in the morning over Easter ( the other two Easter days, he fell over! Neighbours picked him up and put him on the bed!) and not late on a Saturday night!

Another time I used the police, or rather PCSOs was when he was in his delusion/hallucinatory mode. He said Im going out and you're not to follow me!! So I watched him, and when he was just out of sight walked out to the road to follow progress. His walking slowed, and, as I was watching, standing in the middle of the road, 2PCSOs came up behind me. I'm like, just the people I want! Explained the situation and asked if they would bring him back. Oh yes, they said! So I went back halfway down the drive and told my neighbours, in their garden, about it. So back comes OH in state, in a police car! Hallucinations and delusions completely forgotten, looking like a cat who has got the cream. As we all stood talking, one of the PCSOs asked if I knew there was a new meeting started for people with dementia? Turned out we had been in the morning and they had been in the pm!
It wasn't the first meeting we had been to, but the nearest one had closed and this one started in another town.

 

[Slugsta]

I had to call paramedics for mum on a few occasions after she had fallen. They took varying amounts of time to attend (not their fault, other things took priority) but were always patient and understanding when they were with us.

On Mum's last weekend at home, she fell repeatedly. The paramedics said we should call them each time as 5 calls in 48 hours would lead to Mum being taken to hospital as 'unsafe to be at home'. I'm glad we knew this as she was admitted for this reason and went from hospital into a care home.

We had little contact with police, but I have no complaints about the little there was. Prompted by something on this site, I contacted our community officers to warn them that Mum had dementia and might be found wandering or behaving oddly. I had a lovely email back from someone who actually knew Mum, which I found hugely reassuring.

The one time we did need help, Mum had gone missing, they responded quickly and escorted Mum home from church (next door) where she had gone to join in with the carol singing!