tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573632931588970083.post3145367326732303152..comments2023-10-22T10:16:40.522+01:00Comments on The Broken Paramedic: Does NHS 111 Work?Mat Westhorpehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08553980835026556794noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573632931588970083.post-84656750825242151852017-05-22T21:46:12.006+01:002017-05-22T21:46:12.006+01:00I rang my mums local go an hour ago not realising ...I rang my mums local go an hour ago not realising you cannot request an out of hours service without going through 111 so then rang 111. I was ringing for my mum who will be 90 in 2 days and has been in terrible pain with stomach cramps and diarrhoea since mid afternoon (about 7 hours ago) After being put on hold several times and being cut off I had to endure the most ridiculously stupid questions for 30 minutes only to be told eventually that a doctor will ring me within 2 hours. I have never been so angry in my entire life. How they cannot be sensible about it for someone that age without performing robotic style their endless questions that they kept insisting I wake her and ask her saying that if she is in the amount of pain that I claimed she wouldn't be able to sleep! And they wonder why people ring for an ambulance or turn up at A&E it's a farce! Anne from Prestonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573632931588970083.post-44899820392660277102017-02-07T12:50:02.261+00:002017-02-07T12:50:02.261+00:00I got sent on a red 2 for a 19yom with pain on mov...I got sent on a red 2 for a 19yom with pain on movementhafter a night out drinking. It does happen!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05639748512080833389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573632931588970083.post-54903540216794413052017-01-03T10:43:35.138+00:002017-01-03T10:43:35.138+00:00I would love a transcript of my daughters call to ...I would love a transcript of my daughters call to 111. She died soon after. No ambulance was sent to her. Anyone care to let me know how to get a transcript?helenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17972983825391089241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573632931588970083.post-28713047439814784452017-01-03T10:41:13.287+00:002017-01-03T10:41:13.287+00:00I would love a transcript of my daughters call to ...I would love a transcript of my daughters call to 111. No ambulance was sent to her, and she died 3 weeks later. How do I get a transcript ?helenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17972983825391089241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573632931588970083.post-615483300076382672016-05-07T04:26:21.812+01:002016-05-07T04:26:21.812+01:00I work in Emergency Mecicine and we're often f...I work in Emergency Mecicine and we're often frustrated by the patients who are referred to us by 111. However, when I have followed up referrals that I've thought were inappropriate, it's often become clear that patients tell different stories to different services. I do wonder sometimes what we all did before 111 or similar services were available. Has the easy access to medical advice stopped us thinking for ourselves?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573632931588970083.post-75367394239984241762016-02-22T00:40:49.899+00:002016-02-22T00:40:49.899+00:00Well said. I'm also a 111 call handler, though...Well said. I'm also a 111 call handler, though not at the call centre where the press has been focused on recently. The press and remarks from people who work for the ambulance service have really got myself down recently. I just try and remember those moments I know I have made a huge difference. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573632931588970083.post-13977062921430878722016-02-17T19:11:34.261+00:002016-02-17T19:11:34.261+00:00If you said the pain was brought on by movement yo...If you said the pain was brought on by movement you wouldn't get a red 2 you moronUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02642939025588190243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573632931588970083.post-30083856478187434442016-02-17T19:10:13.053+00:002016-02-17T19:10:13.053+00:00I have randomly come across this blog on Twitter.....I have randomly come across this blog on Twitter... And it's so nice to hear that perspective from a clinician. I am a call handler, who had the misfortune to work with the latest "whistle blower" and this recent press attack is completely untrue and devastating to the workers who put everything they have into providing the public with the right care. Iv seen so many sarcastic comments, like the one above about the chest pain... Which by the way if you TOLD the call handler the pain was brought on by movement you would NOT get a red 2. I follow the ambulances I send out and 95% of them take the patients to hospital. I have had parents call about their baby FIGHTING for breath (and yes I heard the attempt to breathe) because they didn't know what it meant for them to be sucking in their chest, and an elderly man saying his wife was unable to speak and had lost power in one arm. I have no doubt in my mind both of these patients would have been left at home overnight if 111 didn't exist because they "only wanted advice" and wrongly thought it could wait for the doctor to open the next day. Recently I had to instruct a foreign carer with CPR because she didn't know who to call. If patients give us stupid answers because they think they need to pretend things are worse than they really are, I'm not going to assume they are lying potentially risking their life. For every one person complaining, I get 100 thankyou's. That's enough to get me through a 12 hour night shift, and to be endlessly proud of the job I do no matter what money grabbing ex staff members or abysmal newspapers write about us.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02642939025588190243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573632931588970083.post-2456658944420070602016-01-12T17:19:08.639+00:002016-01-12T17:19:08.639+00:00Wise words on your banner Matt.
"Only call 9...Wise words on your banner Matt.<br /><br />"Only call 999 in an emergency when someone's life is at risk or someone is seriously injured or critically ill".<br /><br />Unfortunately, the reality is that you and your colleagues will routinely pass calls to the ambulance service that are nowhere near that serious and you all know it.<br /><br />I think it's fair to say that 111 is despised by many of those in the ambulance service. You're so risk adverse, it's pathetic.<br /><br />Similar calls that came into the ambulance service would often result in an ambulance not even being sent but we can't retriage the crap that gets passed by your non-clinically trained call handlers who don't / aren't even allowed to consult with someone in the same room who should know what they are doing.<br />One of these days someone from 111 is going to need an ambulance for themselves or one of their family and they won't get one.<br />Why? Because they will all be committed to jobs with a large chunk of those being totally inappropriate 111 calls.<br /><br />Personally I don't know how some of you sleep well at nights having passed the absolute dross you do to us. I'd love to know how many 111 Red 2 calls actually result in that patient ever going to hospital. Probably very few in fact from my experience.<br /><br />If people think they are going to die or are very ill, they ring 999. If it is less serious, they try and do the "right thing" and try 111 who then simply pass it onto us.<br /><br />The best thing that could happen is to close 111 and plough that money back into the ambulance service and having a few more OOH GPs who actually try and see patients rather than also passing the buck to us.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573632931588970083.post-9387765063232508272015-12-19T15:23:06.069+00:002015-12-19T15:23:06.069+00:00111 call handler - "Hello. How can I help you...111 call handler - "Hello. How can I help you?"<br /><br />Caller - "Hi. I'm really, really sorry to bother you as I'm sure it's nothing but I'm a very fit and healthy 20 year old and I've been to the gym and lifted a few weights. I think I might have overdone it as I have now got a slight pain in the right side of my chest that.."<br /><br />111 call handler - "Woah, woah, woah. Stop right there. Did you say chest pain?"<br /><br />Caller - "Yes I did but it's to the right side and it hurts if I move or take a deep breath."<br /><br />111 call handler - "That's irrelevant. I have a flow chart here that I follow if you have chest pain. This could be a heart attack or even a pulmonorous embo thingy. You need an ambulance straight away."<br /><br />Caller - "No, no. Hang on. It's on the right side and even I know it can't be my heart. Not on that side anyway, unless I'm ambidextrous or whatever the phrase is. I only wanted a bit of advice about pain relief and stuff".<br /><br />111 call handler "Too late youngster. An ambulance has already been dispatched by me even though I have absolutely fuck all knowledge about medical matters".<br /><br />Caller - "But I don't need one and I really don't want one. I can make my own way to see the GP or hospital if you really think it necessary."<br /><br />111 call handler - "Nope. It's on it's way and there is not a single thing the proper professionals can do to stop me. Mwwahhahh".<br /><br />Caller - "But might this mean that a crew gets diverted from something like a road traffic accident?"<br /><br />111 call handler - "That's not my problem and to be honest, it's seen as a quick result for us. I can palm it off to someone else and I don't have to ask a Doctor to get involved because although they are in the same room as us, we don't like to ask them to do stuff for their £150/hour as they get grumpy and we're a little bit frightened of them".<br /><br />Caller - "Well this seems wrong and is putting a massive strain on an alredy creaking ambulance service".<br /><br />111 call handler - "That's not my problem chum (well unless my family need one). Have a good day and thank you for calling 111".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573632931588970083.post-76868822755616334972015-12-16T00:00:39.435+00:002015-12-16T00:00:39.435+00:00It doesn't matter what triage system you use o... It doesn't matter what triage system you use over the phone it has to be risk averse. For those who think there are no consequences to getting it wrong there is a doctor and nurse who have just been found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence for not recognising a septic child early enough who may disagree with you. Something to think about next time we leave someone on-scene. As a paramedic I'm very careful about my assessment before I leave patients at home, but I've made mistakes and we all will at some time, be it paramedics, technicians, doctors or nurses.<br /><br />You can't blame patients for wanting to access healthcare, you have to provide the right pathway and sufficient resources that's all. There are no "inappropriate attenders" in the ED, they should all be assessed and triaged to the correct pathway the same as phone triage attempts to do. The calls do and will increase year on year whether 111 or NHS Re-Direct is there or not. If call rates are increasing for the ambulance service, there are only 2 things you can do about it, you can triage some out, but there's a limit to the number and the only other thing you can do is increase resources, yes ambulance resources and GP/community, hospital/ED/minors/urgent care.<br /><br />There are many varied reasons ambulance calls have increased, many not known but some of the known reasons being closure of A&E departments, patients unable to get a GP appointment, patients deteriorating because they have been misdiagnosed or discharged too early or received a poor service. It's not usually the minor illness and minor injury attenders who cause ambulance trolley queues at hospital, its lack of trolleys/beds. <br /><br />Yes I can't stand the workload, late finishes and above all the crap way I'm treated by managers, (and to the manager in EEAST who has decided to remove the paper PRF's to force staff to use the EPCR, we all know you are a complete twat but the job is hard and stressful enough as it is FFS without you making the job harder/longer and when the pile of electronic crap doesn't work and we get given a scrap of paper from the FRV). <br /><br />I moan about some patients the same as the rest of you, but I think we are looking at this from the wrong perspective. If all are patients were immediately life threatening we would burn out very quickly, let's not blame the patients. We require more care pathways, improved training, more paramedics and less twats. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573632931588970083.post-70550594293419174842015-12-07T15:39:40.698+00:002015-12-07T15:39:40.698+00:00Their duty of care only goes so far as the patient...Their duty of care only goes so far as the patient wishes it to. If the patient has capacity, which we must assume they do. They have a complete right to deny an ambulance. It worrys me that you have just admitted ambulances are being sent to patients against their wishes. This reinforces my current concerns surrounding 111. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573632931588970083.post-20539600621439854282015-12-06T15:50:40.037+00:002015-12-06T15:50:40.037+00:00Would also be interesting to actually see how man...Would also be interesting to actually see how many of the so called life threatening ambulance attendances actually are, also is people's eagerness to say yes down to leading questions? My gripes are not with the clinicians or the call takersAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573632931588970083.post-10174496810493395592015-12-06T12:52:13.665+00:002015-12-06T12:52:13.665+00:00What would be the stance if the patient refused an...What would be the stance if the patient refused an ambulance and you sent one any way, surely there is a problem with sharing their data without permission? I cannot make a referral without permission to share that data, so why can 111 get away with it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573632931588970083.post-63019704386791920282015-12-06T11:46:53.960+00:002015-12-06T11:46:53.960+00:00Having worked soley as a 111 Health Advisor, the ...Having worked soley as a 111 Health Advisor, the questions are aimed at what is happening now at the time of the call, not how long it has been ongoing for. Also the patients description of how they are feeling and their willingness to answer yes to every question may well explain some of the call outs. <br /><br />To answer your first point however and patient that refuses a disposition or end point we would be advised to transfer through to a clinical college to discuss the situation further, and if they felt that an ambulance or other disposition was needed, then they would insist on it, and had the power to send out a vehicle regardless of the patients wishes under their duty of care. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13733445800796041277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573632931588970083.post-11574648245412252332015-12-06T11:46:22.973+00:002015-12-06T11:46:22.973+00:00Having worked soley as a 111 Health Advisor, the ...Having worked soley as a 111 Health Advisor, the questions are aimed at what is happening now at the time of the call, not how long it has been ongoing for. Also the patients description of how they are feeling and their willingness to answer yes to every question may well explain some of the call outs. <br /><br />To answer your first point however and patient that refuses a disposition or end point we would be advised to transfer through to a clinical college to discuss the situation further, and if they felt that an ambulance or other disposition was needed, then they would insist on it, and had the power to send out a vehicle regardless of the patients wishes under their duty of care. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13733445800796041277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3573632931588970083.post-31150341490584659502015-12-06T07:48:35.643+00:002015-12-06T07:48:35.643+00:00Hmmm another well written article, however you don...Hmmm another well written article, however you don't mention the people that try and refuse an ambulance but still get one, or how pathways turns a three day history of dry thickly cough into a red two responseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com