Homelessness

Guest101

Poppie68 wrote: »

A&E is entirely the place to go or take someone if hypothermia is suspected, or do only people who have confirmed illnesses have that right?
It's a potential life threatening condition that needs urgent medical attention if it's severe...

A single crewed 'ambulance' can attend and assess if necessary.

Guest101

Snowbird wrote: »

But in post 9 you said that the person did not need medical help?
You have changed your mind then? Based on what? You have seen them now? - No' I've not changed my mind. I'm saying that someone being cold is not reason to go to hospital. They COULD have any number of undiagnosed conditions, but so could I. I could have cancerous cells, or some disease which has not yet shown symptoms. I am not going to go demanding tests at A&E, just in case. If Symptoms present, then you go to hospital.


Where did I say that I thought they needed a hospital just because they were cold. Or did I give you other indications of hypothermia to help you with your diagnosis? - I'm not diagnosing anyone. I'm saying that hospital is not the default position, just because someone is homeless and it's cold!


No, I am not clinically qualified, and that is why I did not know whether or not they were suffering from hypothermia. That is why I returned because I wasn't sure. - Great. So next time refer them to a walk in clinic.
You, on the other hand, seem to have some sort of clinical qualification because you are able to make a judgement on whether a person needs medical attention or not without even seeing them. Without even having described to you why I suspected hypothermia. - No, im expressing my opinion. You started getting judgmental, suggesting I might act differently if they weren't homeless.
Do you realise how much the NHS needs people like you who are able to make such clinical judgements without either seeing the person or having their symptoms described to you? You clearly must have a gift because no one could be that stupid to make a diagnosis or give an opinion without having such a gift.

So you're unqualified opinion, which would cost many thousands of pounds to the NHS is superior to my unqualified opinion which would cost approx. £40?


Go to a walk-in clinic. NOT a hospital!

jimmy2times

I sometimes wonder about this.
I remember watching a program ages ago on channel4 about homlessness, and the general theme was that those who could prove who they are with paperwork and who were motivated to get help and go to the council were taken off the streets.
The program made it seem like the only ones who couldn't get off the streets were drug addicts who just couldn't function at all and had no paperwork etc.
The program made it kind of seem as though nobody should be sleeping on the streets and that there is no reason for them to do so, but then there lots and lots of it! It can't be by choice when it's freezing cold out!!

IN the program they tried to help certain people with the process, but some of them didn't seem interested or motivated to get any help, so I always assumed that it was only them people who were sleeping rough.
This program was a while ago, and I have no idea whether it's still true, or whether it even was then!

I saw a guy sleeping on the streets with a little lad how looked to be about 6 years old teh other night at about 2am
I was a bit drink and gave them more money than I could afford too, and then couldn't afford my cab home and had to walk home, lol.

I certainly like to think that i wouldn't have to sleep on the streets if I had no money (not even completely unrealistic in my situation and low pay lol )

PasturesNew

The answer is: there's no clear answer.

The correct answer should be to contact the local charities offering help to the homeless - as they'd know the people, they'd know what's available, they'd know the processes.

But, they're also probably "shut" at the time.

There's nowhere that a homeless person can walk up to and get housed/a bed for the night - except by knowing where these places that help the homeless are located - and if they're the right sort of place for the sort of person that's sitting there with the problem.

So, all you can do is research all the local avenues of help and make sure you've a list written out in case you ever see a homeless person that you might want to be helped.

If homeless, the way to get instant help is to find a big shop with a big window and throw a big rock through it, then stand there and wait to be arrested.

PasturesNew

jimmy2times wrote: »

I saw a guy sleeping on the streets with a little lad how looked to be about 6 years old teh other night at about 2am
I was a bit drink and gave them more money than I could afford too, and then couldn't afford my cab home and had to walk home, lol.

I think that one's clearcut. Phone 101 and report them to the police. It's not an "emergency", hence not 999, but it is important/now, so 101. The police would then have the child taken into care, which is the best place for it until something can be ascertained about their circumstances.

pjcox2005

If it's of interest I think BBC3 have a documentary tonight from Professor Green (the rapper, not a college professor) regarding homelessness in the UK. 9pm I think but you'd need to check listings.


One article on the programme said that you need to be asleep, in a sleeping bag, on the streets to be counted in their figures for homeless in Manchester. I.e. if you were sat up in your sleeping bag you'd no longer be homeless.

jimmy2times

PasturesNew wrote: »

If homeless, the way to get instant help is to find a big shop with a big window and throw a big rock through it, then stand there and wait to be arrested.

lol, that reminds me of another part of that program I mentioned where there was indeed a guy who kept breaking the law with the idea of getting put in a warm cell which he deemed far superior to sleeping out in the freezing cold.

PasturesNew wrote: »

I think that one's clearcut. Phone 101 and report them to the police. It's not an "emergency", hence not 999, but it is important/now, so 101. The police would then have the child taken into care, which is the best place for it until something can be ascertained about their circumstances.

Yeah, I should have done that.
I remember thinking that people with children who are sleeping rough would surely be a priority and so found it odd. I didn't think to report him to the police, though. Even If I was sober I doubt It would have occurred to me to do that. I just gave them my £20 and then realised I couldn't afford a cab and walked home for nearly 2 hours!!

RuthnJasper

Guest101 wrote: »

No, not to hospital, not unless there was something seriously medically wrong.


A hospital is NOT A HOTEL!

No, I don't mean take a random homeless person to hospital. I meant, as the OP suggested, if they suspect someone is seriously ill.


Of course people shouldn't be picked up and "parked" in the nearest hospital. But when there is enough cause to believe that a person is ill and needing emergency medical treatment...

Guest101

RuthnJasper wrote: »

No, I don't mean take a random homeless person to hospital. I meant, as the OP suggested, if they suspect someone is seriously ill.


Of course people shouldn't be picked up and "parked" in the nearest hospital. But when there is enough cause to believe that a person is ill and needing emergency medical treatment...

That's what a paramedic can assess, a single crewed response vehicle is perfect for this type of call.

tomtontom

How is the lady now OP, did she seek medical help?

I think the point some are trying to make is, if every extremely cold homeless person was taken to A&E they would be overrun and it would essentially turn into a very expensive hostel. Unless the lady was showing extreme signs of distress, difficulty breathing etc (and she wouldn't be eating and drinking if she was), A&E would not be the right place for her.