"28 year old male, fall, hip injury"

This job was a case in point. The location was at the gym, in the shower rooms. I refused to believe that a 28 year old could have broken his hip and if I was correct, there was absolutely no reason an ambulance was needed. We were met by staff at the door who informed me that against advice he had been helped up, got dressed and was sitting on a chair waiting for us. Really?! I was all ready for one of my 'why can't you make your own way?' lectures when a break down in communication became apparent!
"Hello sir! Forgive me, but you are not 28 are you?!"
"I'm afraid not! I can't even remember being 28!"
"How old are you?!"
"I'm 98 but today is the first time I felt it!"
He was sat there in a wheelchair, in a suit and flat cap and didn't look a day over 70!
"Well you don't look it! What's happened today Sir?"
"Well I came for my yoga class and slipped over in the shower afterwards, now everyone is making a bloody fuss."
"Wow! Yoga at 98, that's amazing! More importantly, I was told you'd hurt your hip? Have you got pain anywhere?"
"Well my hip is a bit sore. But nothing too bad I don't think."
"OK, well I'll check you over, give you a quick MOT and see if you need anything. Sound like a plan?!"
"You just do what you've got to do duck!"
It turned out that this lovely old man comes to the gym three times a week for different classes! He does yoga, water aerobics and a seniors spin class! I did ask if he did Body Pump, but he just laughed and said that was a young'uns game!
Unfortunately, I quickly established that he had indeed broken his hip. How he had got himself up and dressed I don't know! I broke the news to him and his was viably frustrated and rather upset. Clearly a man of routine and activity, the thought and prospect of resting was not one that sat well with him.
He declined all pain relief and was content to just sit in the chair until the ambulance arrived to take him off to hospital. What a guy! 98!!
The rest of the shift continued to pass without incident, although it also passed without any characters quit like my elderly fitness fanatic! I had time for one more job......
"23 year old male, abdo pain"
I suspected this was going to be one of those 'bite lip and count to ten' type jobs. As the CAD updated on route, the more information I got, the more frustrated I became! 'Feels nauseous, has a headache, feeling dizzy, already seen GP, now feeling worse'. Oh please! For the love of god, people need to just cope! Unless he had a ruptured appendix or a diagnosed chronic condition he was making a mountain out of a mole hill! I was desperately trying to reserve judgement until I arrived, but it's a hard thing to do!
I was met at the front door by his girlfriend who looked wholly unimpressed by the entire situation. I'm not surprised! I could see him lying on the floor in the background, writhing around and groaning.
"What's the problem today?"
"Aaarrrgghhuuurrrghhg."
"What's the problem today?"
"Aaarrrgghhuuurrrghhg. My stomach."
"What about your stomach?"
"............................"
"What about your stomach?!" my voice now sounded more and more frustrated.
"Aaarrrgghhuuurrrghhg."
"He's got a stomach ache and heart burn. He saw the doctor who said it was reflux and gave him these." (Omperazole, Paracetomol & Gaviscon Advance)
"Thank you, are you going to talk to me?!" I said as I took a seat.
"Aaarrrgghhuuurrrghhg. it hurts."
"Have you taken your pain killers or the Gaviscon because it doesn't look opened."
"Aaarrrgghhuuurrrghhg. Not yet. I can't just be reflux so I haven't bothered."
This was a red flag to a bull! I gave him a rare telling off and told him he needed to buck his ideas up. I assured him I wouldn't be crawling on the floor to examine him and if he wanted my help after calling 999 then he would need to get up off the floor, sit down and start answering my questions with answers, as opposed to groans. I also let him know the cost to the NHS for an FRU and an ambulance and that so far, he was just abusive the privilege of having one.
I think he was a little stunned that he had called 999 and was getting told off, not mothered, but it had the desired effect. After a minute of over-acting in getting up he was sat upright in his chair and I gave him a full examination. His abdomen was fine, all his OBs were fine, there was no signs of an infection and the history he eventually gave, combined with the description of pain led me to agree with the GP. Reflux.
I told him he didn't need to go to hospital but he felt he did. His reasoning behind this was that tomorrow was his first day in his new job and he wouldn't be well enough to go so therefore going to hospital would mean he could get a letter etc etc. I told him that's not how it works and that I would be cancelling the ambulance. I don't think I was his favourite person!

What an awesome 98 year-old!! - If I live that long; I really hop that's what I'm like!
ReplyDeleteGood to have you back :)
ReplyDeleteThat's an amazing story and the attitude you are talking about is across all thongs. It's the generation of want it now have itnpw hence the modern issues of obesity and debt and general disrespect. Thank you, awesome read!
ReplyDeleteThe number of lovely old folk I have attended with #NOFs who have laid on the floor all night because "they didn't want to disturb us in the middle of the night" breaks my heart.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, the number of demanding, idiot, selfish young folk I have attnded who have absolutely fuck all wrong with them that a little bit more backbone wouldn't cure breaks my will to live.
A situation which is mirrored for the police farce. Some pensioners are apologetic for reporting a burglary that we all join wanting to deal with. Whilst our 16-40 year old underclass don't think twice about calling the police about a rude message on facebook without even clicking the 'block friend' button first.
ReplyDeleteThis post really annoyed me - not because I disagree with you, but because of the fact that as so many young people abuse the service, when I call an ambulance I'm treated like I'm faking it or being OTT. I have a pacemaker and other heart conditions which mean that I genuinely do have to call 999 at least once a year. I try not to, but if I'm unconscious on the floor it's not really up to me!
ReplyDeleteThat bloke with abdo pain is exact what's wrong with the NHS. If he wanted a sick certificate surely he should have asked his GP?!
Reading your blog makes me lose faith in my generation! I'm 22 and have only ever had one ambulance attend to me and that was when I crashed my motorbike. Even that was called by a passer by without asking me if wanted one! (The crew checked me over and as I thought, I was fine!) I've had my fair share of feeling ill and minor injuries but never once even considered phoning 999. Does no one my age realise what an emergency is? Or has the majority of this generation been so pandered to and wrapped up in cotton wool that they can't cope with anything slightly outside the norm?!
ReplyDeleteLove your blog, Ella, keep posting!