Thought I’d share our experience yesterday.
We had a frightening and sobering day.
Had to call paramedics for a family member several times yesterday for none COVID related problems. The first call went ok. Paramedics arrived, did their checks and thankfully, while concerned, no immediate further action was needed. We didn’t know before but seemingly no serious injuries suffered nor underlying direct cause. However, a second call was needed later.
After 5 hours the ambulance service called back to say that as it wasn’t an immediate threat to life that they simply couldn’t attend despite the possibility again of injury, broken bones or other problems. Only immediate life and death calls are being attended and even that may still take some while.
A little while later a doctor again asked for paramedics again now suspecting a stroke. Despite this call by a doctor the ambulance service still couldn’t attend and had no possibility of attending. Again it was abandoned after 5 hours. We and particularly my sister were left to fend for ourselves overnight.
Thankfully we got through and have had to start the process again this morning.
Please please do nothing that creates any risk to yourselves and others. That I suggest includes no unnecessary driving no matter how you justify yourself. If you have any accident whatsoever you cannot at the moment rely on the ambulance services attending as you would normally expect - they can’t cope with serious medical emergencies as it is. You may just be waiting for hours or days even with serious injuries such as broken bones. This is likely to be the situation for the next two to three weeks. It will be that long before the increasing demand starts to subside.
Stay safe. Stay home. I’m asking not for the government but for the poor souls who are currently fighting a losing battle with COVID and ultimately for yourself. When you see someone you love without any help yourself you will understand. It really is deadly serious!!!
We had a frightening and sobering day.
Had to call paramedics for a family member several times yesterday for none COVID related problems. The first call went ok. Paramedics arrived, did their checks and thankfully, while concerned, no immediate further action was needed. We didn’t know before but seemingly no serious injuries suffered nor underlying direct cause. However, a second call was needed later.
After 5 hours the ambulance service called back to say that as it wasn’t an immediate threat to life that they simply couldn’t attend despite the possibility again of injury, broken bones or other problems. Only immediate life and death calls are being attended and even that may still take some while.
A little while later a doctor again asked for paramedics again now suspecting a stroke. Despite this call by a doctor the ambulance service still couldn’t attend and had no possibility of attending. Again it was abandoned after 5 hours. We and particularly my sister were left to fend for ourselves overnight.
Thankfully we got through and have had to start the process again this morning.
Please please do nothing that creates any risk to yourselves and others. That I suggest includes no unnecessary driving no matter how you justify yourself. If you have any accident whatsoever you cannot at the moment rely on the ambulance services attending as you would normally expect - they can’t cope with serious medical emergencies as it is. You may just be waiting for hours or days even with serious injuries such as broken bones. This is likely to be the situation for the next two to three weeks. It will be that long before the increasing demand starts to subside.
Stay safe. Stay home. I’m asking not for the government but for the poor souls who are currently fighting a losing battle with COVID and ultimately for yourself. When you see someone you love without any help yourself you will understand. It really is deadly serious!!!
