07/08: MRS ANGRY!!

I do find myself getting more grumpy as I get older ... I'm intolerant of bad behaviour, bad service and, well just so many things it seems.     

In recent weeks I have had some bad experiences with a courier company, internet/blogger theft and today the NHS emergency services:   More about the first two another time

David and I did our usual voluntary job at Pilgrims Hospice eBay office today and after being cooped up indoors in front of computers all day we decided to go to our Bowls Club for an hour's practice tonight to get some fresh air and exercise.     

On the way home we stopped to let an elderly gent cross the road but he tripped on the kerb, fell heavily on his head and landed with one leg twisted under him.   He fell at a crossroads with fourway traffic and landed in the road.     Whilst David phoned 999 for medical assistance I went to help the man who had a very nasty bump on his forehead which was bleeding.   I found out his name is William, he told me he is 95 years old and lives alone since his wife of 44 years died last year.   He had been for his usual lunchtime pint at 'the Wheatsheaf' in the next village, left his mobility scooter there and came into Tankerton by bus to have a fish and chip supper at our local chippy - Ozzies.   He was on his way to catch a bus back to the wheatsheaf to collect his scooter and go home.

The ambulance call centre kept me on the phone for 20 minutes running through all their questions and then giving me such advice as I shouldn't let the poor man have any food or drink, I could give him aspirin for pain but not ibuprofen, we should make him lie on his back with his legs raised etc.  I was ready to scream at them.   I was trying to talk to them, reassure him and stop him moving around and David was trying to ensure other cars avoided driving too close to us.

Another lovely couple had stopped - she (Josie) is a first aider so sat by William's head holding him still as he kept trying to sit up because he was aching so much.   Another guy came from a nearby house with a cushion and blanket to try to make William more comfortable.

A policeman arrived to help control the traffic which had quietened down by then.  He asked his 'controllers' to hurry the emergency services along but it was 45 minutes before a single paramedic arrived and he basically did nothing but ask some questions and try unsuccessfully to immobilise William's head/neck in a surgical collar.  The collar was too big and kept moving so had to be removed.  The Paramedic called for an ambulance.   It was over one hour after our 999 call before the ambulance arrived and poor William was dreadfully uncomfortable on the cold hard road - I was uncomfortable enough just kneeling there holding his hand and I'm 40 years younger!  


William was loaded into the ambulance one hour and a quarter after we called for emergency help.  He has been taken to hospital for a head scan and observation.   Josie will phone the hospital later to find out what's happening and she'll let me know.  As soon as he is allowed home David and I plan to call round to his flat to check on him - I'm very angry at the delay in getting help for this lovely old chap though.

Rant over.      It was far too late to go home and cook dinner so we popped into Ozzie's and got take-away fish & chips which were delicious.   Just going to chill out for an hour and then tomorrow we are doing an additional stint at Pilgrims.    Friday we are rattling buckets outside a local supermarket collecting money for the Air Ambulance charity and Friday afternoon I'm bowling in a match so I'm afraid there will be little artwork on the Blog for a while.