Ambulance in Melbourne.

[misi]

My Mum did not feel well a few weeks ago, I called an ambulance for her.
It took 20 minutes to arrive.

Friday they transferred her to another hospital, the staff arranged for an ambulance to take her.
It was 2:30pm, ambulance should arrive 4:30pm.
Waiting,waiting,waiting...
News at 5:30pm: Ambulance is on its way.
It arrived 6:30pm.

 

[TeeEm]

I hope your mum is okay now.

The same applies in Brisbane, where you can get to the hospital eventually and there can be up to 18 ambulances ramped ahead of you because of the sheer demand on our over-stressed hospital system, which of course filters down to these ambulances being parked on the hospital ramp and are therefore not available, so of course response time suffers. Which has dire consequences in the more critical situations and people can die in an ambulance because of it.

 

[foxidrive]

Friday's one was patient transport - Chris was a driver for them not so long ago. They must have been *very* busy

How is your Mum, misi? Is she in Kingston hospital?

 

[misi]

How is your Mum, misi? Is she in Kingston hospital?

She's getting better in the Dandenong hospital.

 

[foxidrive]

Ok, all the best!

 

[aye-aye-Chris]

My Mum did not feel well a few weeks ago, I called an ambulance for her.
It took 20 minutes to arrive.

Reasonable timing.

Friday they transferred her to another hospital, the staff arranged for an ambulance to take her.
It was 2:30pm, ambulance should arrive 4:30pm.
Waiting,waiting,waiting...
News at 5:30pm: Ambulance is on its way.
It arrived 6:30pm.

She's getting better in the Dandenong hospital.

I hope she is.

If you were told after inquiring at 5:30 that is on it's way, was a call made to confirm that? Or did they call after you left the desk?

The policy (was) maximum 2hr from call to pickup, hence the 2:30 to 4:30. The extra 2hrs warrants an explanation, in writing.

IOW, someone stuffed up. An apology is well due.

As you know, these things happen but only by complaining (in writing) and demanding an apology in writing, will those on duty at the time possibly be reprimanded, at best. Quote the 2 hour time frame.

It won't help your mum or you but the next time a patient needs transport maybe it will happen within the time frame.

Best wishes, Chris, Mossie and the boys.

 

[aye-aye-Chris]

... filters down to these ambulances being parked on the hospital ramp and are therefore not available, so of course response time suffers. Which has dire consequences in the more critical situations and people can die in an ambulance because of it.

I don't know of Qld's laws etc. in this regard, but in Vic. we have privately run Patient Transport companies to take the load off the state-run services, MAS and RAS (Metropolitan Ambulance Service and Rural...). Some private ones do some emerg backup as a lot of private services are using qualified ambos and MICA trained as well and the vehicles are fitted sufficiently. The staff do this as an income boost, part time job or post MAS/RAS employment/retirement.

So to/from appointments for disabled/elderly/dialysis etc. and patient transfers are well catered for and normally done well within this 2 hour time frame. Red Cross, hospital outpatient services and others also do the former as well.

I'm fairly sure NSW has this as well.

 

[misi]

If you were told after inquiring at 5:30 that is on it's way, was a call made to confirm that? Or did they call after you left the desk?

I don't know,Chris.
We were conforting my nervous Mum at her bed.

IOW, someone stuffed up. An apology is well due.

We have had it from the nurses. I don't want to pursue it further,they looked after well of my Mum.

Best wishes, Chris, Mossie and the boys.

Thank you for all of you!

 

[okeedokee]

Best wishes to your mum, misi. I do hope things are improving each day.

 

[biggles]

Hope your mum is now well on the road to recovery.