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Did the 999 responder act correctly? Very sensitive question

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Comments

  • goosander
    goosander Posts: 97 Forumite
    I've had to dial 999 on three occasions in recents years, and in all three cases I found that the actions of the dispatchers were extremely unhelpful and actually prevented me from offering assistance and put my stress levels through the roof. They asked lots of unnecessary questions & seemed to be trying to keep you on the phone as long as possible - its hard to help someone if you are on your own and are trying to hold a phone with one hand and answer pointless questions at the same time.

    Whilst there can be situations where a dispatcher can offer help over the phone, in the majority of cases once they are sure of the location all they need to do is dispatch the appropriate assistance and nothing else. On each occasion I called 999, the dispatchers failed to confirm that help is on the way and just kept asking questions - eventually I had to interrupt and specifically ask if they had sent anyone yet.

    On the most recent occasion I called on behalf of an assault victim, I told them I couldn't answer any more questions because I was trying to prevent the assailant injuring me as well - they kept asking questions and in the end I just hung up but they kept ringing back.
  • FBaby
    FBaby Posts: 18,374 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I think they acted appropriately. Saying you are a nurse would mean nothing at all. You could be a school nurse who has never dealt with an unconscious body for years if ever. You could also be a nurse who hasn't practiced for many years who with the shock of the situation could forget about their practice.

    Think about the man on the other line. He is told that a man is most likely dead, but don't know for sure. His first thought was that he tried to asphyxiate himself and that the best way he could be saved if still just about hanging on to life would be to be taken out of the fumes out of the car.

    To be honest, I am surprised that your mum didn't want to try to take him out, just dragging him and let him fall out, if only just in case of a possible miracle. If she was a nurse, touching an unknown body shouldn't have been an issue for her. Ultimately, she could have called or run to your husband and replace him, so he could give do it.

    It sounds like she is offended that her judgemental call about that man being dead was questioned. However, the man on the phone couldn't assume that she knew what she was doing and had to take the situation as if the person didn't if there was even a tiny chance that moving him away from the car could save the man.
  • N9eav
    N9eav Posts: 4,742 Forumite
    Seems that most people's comments are good and fair... Only Doctors and Paramedics can pronounce life extinct. Police can't unless there is obvious trauma that is not conducive with life.


    Preservation of life is paramount and I guess the operator wants to make sure that people have a go. Finding any body is traumatic let alone trying to move one and give it Mouth to mouth.


    On the flip side...
    In 2007 my neighbour phoned 999 as her husband had stopped breathing and she thought he was dead. They told her to do CPR, but she was in too much of a panic and ran to my house. My wife and I did CPR and it worked and my neighbour is still here today.


    I guess the operator cannot see the other end and never knows whether the casualty is recoverable...
    NO to pasty tax We won!!!! Just shows that people power works! Don't be apathetic to your cause!
  • FBaby
    FBaby Posts: 18,374 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    A thought came to my mind, I am assuming that the police would offer some sort of support people finding themselves in this situation? I expect I would be most traumatised for a while if I were to find a dead body andt trying to ressucitate them and expect I would need some psychological support, but would it be the remit of the police force?
  • N9eav
    N9eav Posts: 4,742 Forumite
    FBaby wrote: »
    A thought came to my mind, I am assuming that the police would offer some sort of support people finding themselves in this situation? I expect I would be most traumatised for a while if I were to find a dead body andt trying to ressucitate them and expect I would need some psychological support, but would it be the remit of the police force?

    Do we know if it was a Police or Ambulance dispatcher?
    NO to pasty tax We won!!!! Just shows that people power works! Don't be apathetic to your cause!
  • Buzzybee90
    Buzzybee90 Posts: 1,652 Forumite
    I've been Money Tipped!
    Why would you find it hard to take someone's pulse?

    I'm not squeamish, but pulses make me cringe beyond belief, I can't even take my own.

    It's probably linked to the fact I had a very high one and went through to some medical investigation for it.
  • fannyanna
    fannyanna Posts: 2,622 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Whilst I can imagine how distressing the situation must have been for your Mum I do not think the call handler did anything wrong.

    They have to check for signs of life and even if there is a tiny chance that the casualty could be revived they have to try and instigate life saving treatment.

    As for not feeling a pulse, I can struggle to find my own pulse sometimes (and I know I have one as I'm alive and kicking). Someone who is in a bad medical state could have a very faint pulse that is likely to be hard to find without medical equipment. So I think the call handler was right not to rely too heavily on the fact that your parents couldn't feel a pulse.

    Hope your parents are ok though.
  • gingin_2
    gingin_2 Posts: 2,992 Forumite
    Thanks everyone.

    It's not my Mum wanting to make a fuss, it's me and I am in protective mode. It's good to get other perspectives and once you read it with a fresh head, it makes sense.

    I might ask for this thread to be removed so if it disappears, that's why. I don't want anyone who might have been through something like this to wonder whether it is their situation I am talking about.
  • Errata
    Errata Posts: 38,230 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Sounds utterly bizarre, especially since First Responders use cars to get to the scene far more quickly than even an emergency ambulance.
    Demand a full explanation from the Police Service and the Ambulance Trust. A formal complaint could then be made once the situation is clearly understood by all those concerned.
    .................:)....I'm smiling because I have no idea what's going on ...:)
  • Tiddlywinks
    Tiddlywinks Posts: 5,777 Forumite
    I've been Money Tipped!
    Errata wrote: »
    Sounds utterly bizarre, especially since First Responders use cars to get to the scene far more quickly than even an emergency ambulance.
    Demand a full explanation from the Police Service and the Ambulance Trust. A formal complaint could then be made once the situation is clearly understood by all those concerned.

    What exactly do you think is 'bizarre'?

    Are you honestly suggesting that no one should be asked to attempt CPR and that they should simply wait for a 'professional'?

    It was a rural location... it could be 20 minutes for even a biker to get there... that is a death sentence for a casualty who's not breathing at the point of discovery.

    Emergency intervention is not about the niceties of polite society... a life was potentially ebbing away... would you just suggest he were simply left to die? Remember, there was no proof at that stage that the man was actually dead.
    :hello:
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