Homelessness

tomtontom

Poppie68 wrote: »

I'm not the one giving advice, your the one telling others not to take others to A&E so is that not advice?. I've not once said don't call an ambulance but you have more than once said don't take them to A&E.

Hypothermia can kill....It's potentially lethal if that doesn't warrant hospital then what does? Regardless of how you get them there, they need proper diagnosis...

But going back to the OP's story, if they *genuinely* thought the lady was at risk of death or significant damage, surely their reaction would not be "here's a cup of tea"? That's why it comes across that their story, or their interpretation of the lady's condition, might be exaggerated - if you recognised someone was in respiratory failure, would you be buying them a drink?

GwylimT

Guest101 wrote: »

But you didn't need A&E, you needed hospital treatment.

you needed a way into the system that's all.

In that case no one has ever needed to use A&E, as apparently having an accident or a medical emergency doesn't require A&E!!

Guest101

GirlFromMars wrote: »

Plenty of people who need emergency treatment are able to get to A&E themselves.

Going to a walk in centre isn't terrible advice - especially if it's located next to an A&E as then they can filter you towards the most appropriate option. Or if you don't know how serious your ailment is you can just phone 111 and they will assess you and give you appropriate advice.

How do you think you're going to get your mystical ambulance to come visit you if you don't call 999 (or if 111 don't put you through)

You are entirely wrong to think of the ambulance service as a service to use, when you aren't quite bad enough for A&E. Ambulances are for major emergencies, not just because you can't be bothered to get yourself to see a doctor.

I have read the entire thread thanks. And you are wrong throughout where it comes to calling paramedics to attend situations that in your opinion don't quite warrant a visit to A&E. You should only call an ambulance if you expect to have to go to A&E. The paramedic may decide otherwise when they get to you, but you should not already be of the opinion that you're not sick enough for A&E when you call out an emergency vehicle.

It costs far more to have an emergency vehicle staffed with paramedics come to you, than it does for you to go to an A&E department & wait until they can see you.

I think we're actually saying similar things. Plenty of people need urgent care, but A&E isn't what they actually need, just a way into the system.

Technically a dentist provides emergency treatment, you wouldn't go to A&E with toothache.

I did not say going to a walk in was terrible advice, I've said that's where it would be best to go.

As you said 111, district nurse, response vehicle, appointment with out of hours etc. - for my mystical ambulance.

And I didn't say 'aren't quite bad enough for A&E'. I said if you must do something, a response vehicle will be much better placed than A&E. I don't reend either, but if someone MUST choose.

If you've read the thread and you've taken away the view that I think an ambulance is appropriate for the OPs question then I apologise. I think an ambulance is not appropriate for anything other than emergency.

But I will disagree with you as to which costs more.

My point through out has been go to a walk-in.

Guest101

GwylimT wrote: »

In that case no one has ever needed to use A&E, as apparently having an accident or a medical emergency doesn't require A&E!!

Very few people should be using A&E. But I agree it's hard to get into the system.

Starrystarrynight1

Thank goodness we still have caring people like the OP in this country. I've been shocked at some of the nastiness on this thread.

The_Last_Username

Poppie68: calling an ambulance, getting them there by car or on a ruddy donkey shouldn't matter.

Indeed; in the context of the OP if you are genuinely concerned you cannot in good conscience do otherwise.
In this we absolutely agree.

With one proviso (as I keep saying) : they MUST agree to go.

If they do not agree, I will repeat:

If the proposed recipient is unwilling to accept your offers of help, the most you can do is to inform the authorities (i.e.local police) regarding this person and state your concerns.
If those concerns include the possibility of hypothermia, tell them this.

Even the police must have VERY good reason before they can move a person against their wishes.

The_Last_Username

Starrystarrynight1 wrote: »

Thank goodness we still have caring people like the OP in this country. I've been shocked at some of the nastiness on this thread.

Please show me this nastiness?
I have seen ignorance, and even potentially very dangerous advice in this thread (which is why I posted), but nothing which I would describe as "nasty".
You are however in the right subforum (Benefits & Tax Credits) if you wish to see what nastiness is.
Though you are (of course) entitled to your own opinion - as is any poster on these forums.

GirlFromMars_2

Guest101 wrote: »

I think we're actually saying similar things. Plenty of people need urgent care, but A&E isn't what they actually need, just a way into the system.

Technically a dentist provides emergency treatment, you wouldn't go to A&E with toothache.

I did not say going to a walk in was terrible advice, I've said that's where it would be best to go.

As you said 111, district nurse, response vehicle, appointment with out of hours etc. - for my mystical ambulance.

And I didn't say 'aren't quite bad enough for A&E'. I said if you must do something, a response vehicle will be much better placed than A&E. I don't reend either, but if someone MUST choose.

If you've read the thread and you've taken away the view that I think an ambulance is appropriate for the OPs question then I apologise. I think an ambulance is not appropriate for anything other than emergency.

But I will disagree with you as to which costs more.

My point through out has been go to a walk-in.

The way into the system is A&E though. If you need admitting to hospital A&E is the only place to go in an emergency. Minor Injuries Units & Walk In Centres are not for things that are likely to require admission to hospital.

Walk In Centres don't provide a standard service, so you would have to be very familiar with the local one to decide that's the best place to go. It would be better to phone 111 & check where the most appropriate place is to get the care required. Walk in Centres are often located by A&E. My local Walk In Centre is in A&E - you show up, they decide where you belong.

If you must choose between taking someone to A&E and calling an ambulance, you should only call the ambulance if you cannot get the person to A&E yourself because they are too seriously ill and need treatment then & there. In this situation, the OP clearly thought they were capable of getting the person to A&E and didn't think they needed immediate on the pavement treatment. In fact in that situation choose whether the situation is immediately life threatening or not, and decide between phoning 999 for an immediate response, or 111 for marginally less urgent advice & assistance.

An ambulance and 999 are for the most immediately important of emergencies. A&E and local walk in centres are for the rest.

Guest101

GirlFromMars wrote: »

The way into the system is A&E though. If you need admitting to hospital A&E is the only place to go in an emergency. Minor Injuries Units & Walk In Centres are not for things that are likely to require admission to hospital.

Walk In Centres don't provide a standard service, so you would have to be very familiar with the local one to decide that's the best place to go. It would be better to phone 111 & check where the most appropriate place is to get the care required. Walk in Centres are often located by A&E. My local Walk In Centre is in A&E - you show up, they decide where you belong.

If you must choose between taking someone to A&E and calling an ambulance, you should only call the ambulance if you cannot get the person to A&E yourself because they are too seriously ill and need treatment then & there. In this situation, the OP clearly thought they were capable of getting the person to A&E and didn't think they needed immediate on the pavement treatment. In fact in that situation choose whether the situation is immediately life threatening or not, and decide between phoning 999 for an immediate response, or 111 for marginally less urgent advice & assistance.

An ambulance and 999 are for the most immediately important of emergencies. A&E and local walk in centres are for the rest.

We're not going to agree on this, so let's just leave it there.

dippy3103

Bordeuax wrote: »

They might be mental and need sectioning and need to get a social report.
They dont have to stay in the bed there ,if thats what your thinking?

"Mental"... I think you meant they may have mental
Health issues..