The Nation's Health

Not Again

"84 year old female, fall"

It was the start of the shift and this particular patient had been lying on the floor for about two hours. Not a priority right?! Patient care is the ambulance services number one focus right? Hmmm. Anyway, grumbles about the right and wrongs of making an 84 year old wait on the floor for two hours, off we went! We were let into the house by our patients husband who clearly suffered with dementia. He shuffled up and down the hallway for most of the time we were there. Very sad to see. Our patient was lying on the floor in piano / bedroom. Her bed was now downstairs and placed a few feet away from a wonderful grand piano. She used to be a professional pianist and this way she could still lose herself in her music without the need to struggle with the stairs.

We assessed her whilst she was on the floor and quickly determined that there were no injuries. The only problem was that she had been incontinent. We got her up and onto the chair. The evening carer hadn't shown up which is what had caused her to venture to the toilet in the first place so we were left doing the carers work. We undressed her, gave her a flannel wash and re-dressed her in her night clothes. She hadn't been wearing an incontinence pad when we found her so I assumed it was because she'd been on the floor so long. She was so thankful and grateful and apologetic, it must be so horrible to lose your dignity in such a way. Hospital wasn't on the agenda because she cared for her husband who was still shuffling up and down the corridor.

Once it was established that she would normally help her husband to bed, we said we'd put him to bed, then come and put her to bed, to save her walking around with her frame too much. So, for the second time we did the work that the carer that they pay for should have done. We took her husband to his bedroom, undressed him, washed him, re-dressed him, gave him his pills and put him to bed. Job done! Now, back to our patient.

My crew mate had prepared her medication and a glass of water. We gave her all the pills which she took so now it was just a case of bed and goodbyes. We stood her up and immediately noticed the wet patch on the chair. A cursory glanced down made it clear she'd wet herself. Not again! Remember that assumption I made?! They really are the mother of all f**k ups! It was then that I noticed I pile of incontinence pads stacked behind the door! So, we undressed her, washed her, re-dressed her and got her into bed. Again, she couldn't stop thanking us and apologising despite my threat of charging her £5 for of every time she said 'sorry'! We packed up our stuff and said our goodbyes when she said:

"I'm really sorry, but I think I need the toilet."

Bags down, duvet off, swing legs around, help up with frame and usher quickly towards the toilet. Unfortunately, at 84 'quickly' wasn't something that was going to happen. She slowly shuffled, one step at a time towards the toilet. 4 meters, 3 meters, 2 meters, fart, 1.5 meters, fart, 1 meter.....

"Sorry, I didn't make it."

The smell confirmed our fears. Not again! We got her onto the toilet, we undressed her, we extensively cleaned her, we got yet more clothes and redressed her, we got her back into bed and we put a load of washing on. I finished off my paperwork including a vulnerable adult form (she clearly needs more help and commode) and then said our goodbyes. On cue, the front door opened and in walked the carer......