Get to A and E by car if it’s urgent and there’s a long wait for an ambulance.

[Kristin1812]

Today I was advised not to wait for an Ambulance if I am having another unstable angina attack, and I’d been told there’s a long wait for an ambulance. The GP said ’just get someone to take you in a car’.

Twice recently I have had to wait over an hour for the ambulance to arrive. My call was classed as urgent ‘suspected HA’.

I will be readier next time, if it’s as urgent, and I’m hoping that you will also know what to do, if you’re in the same position.

It’s not the usual advice, but, as the GP said ‘these days, you just have to weigh up the costs and benefits’.

[SpiritoftheFloyd]

Waiting over an hour for an ambulance must be terrifying, I walked past the main hospital for my area the other week and I don't think I've ever seen so many ambulances waiting to hand over patients.

Your post is very appropriate and makes perfect sense - if urgent - get there anyway you can.

It's worrying when you know the resources we expect to be there aren't there. As I've said to friends many times since this pandemic began, I think myself lucky to have gone through a heart attack/cardiac arrest in normal times (2018) and was able to access everything including and especially cardio rehab. I'm feel desperately sorry for people who are at the start of their heart journey in these times.

[Kristin1812 Heart Star in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

Thanks for your comments. I had wondered whether to post it!

[Hidden]

Dear Kristin1812

I hope everything goes ok, and for what it’s worth I think that your Dr was right in telling you to get to A&E under your own steam.

It really is the sign of the times when you have to do that, but your health is the main thing.

Take care

[mathematics]

Hi Kristin1812, the same thing happened to my husband in October, he was having bad chest pains and was breathless so I called the ambulance to be told there was a 5 hour wait and could we get him there ourselves. Fortunately 2 voluntary first responders turned up before we left and sorted him out. It is really scary and our GP afterwards said she was having a cold sweat as I had rung her. My husband had an angiogram booked in thank goodness for 1st November where it was found his artery was so narrowed it was like a pin prick so he needed stents there and then. I really hope you get sorted. Our GP said one old gentleman who was having chest pain was put on the bus to get to hospital, that is how bad things are. Our GP wanted us to complain but we did not.

[Kristin1812 Heart Star in reply to mathematics]

Times are difficult aren’t they? I’m pleased your husband is getting the care he needs. That must have been incredibly stressful. 5hrs!

[mathematics in reply to Kristin1812]

Hope you are OK as well, it is all stressful, which does not help, I was told by a nurse giving me an ecg the other week that narrowed arteries or stenosis would not show up on routine tests such as an ecg or blood test. Hope you get your unstable angina sorted I know how scary it is.

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

Thank you so much. Your comments are very helpful. I see from your posts that you have both really been through some tough times. I hope you are keeping well now and and ready to enjoy a bit of Christmas spirit?

[Sunnie2day]

Good advice, thank-you for passing it on. I'm sorry to hear you've had to wait for an ambulance and now are having to make a contingency plan to get you to A&E in case of an acute unstable angina attack. But it's good to know your GP recognises the delays and has advised you to have someone drive you - I know of more than a few people who've been told to wait for the ambulance...that finally turns up over eight hours later.

[Kristin1812 Heart Star in reply to Sunnie2day]

That 8 hours must seem like an eternity!

[Hidden]

I'm really not sure if your GP's giving good advice. I recently had my 2nd heart attack. The ambulance took half an hour to arrive. I waited outside A&E in the ambulance for 3 hours before going in. I then spent 9 days in hospital.

Whilst in hospital I was hearing horror stories about A&E from the nurses: a 96 year man who waited 20 hours for treatment, 14 ambulances being queued outside waiting to go on etc.

If you're in an ambulance and things get worse, at least you have highly trained medical staff on hand who can help.

I wish you all the very best getting to the bottom of your angina problems.

[Kristin1812 Heart Star in reply to Hidden]

I know! It surprised me,. It wasn’t the usual advice. Like you, I’ve always thought being near a paramedic is the next best thing if you can’t get into Hospital.But maybe she had local knowledge and knew all ambulances here would currently take longer than getting there by car.Not sure,

Thank you for your good wishes. How are you doing now? Are you OK?

[Hidden in reply to Kristin1812]

I was doing fine until 2 days ago then I tested positive for the dredded C. I've had a day and a half with a high temperature including having a rygor (never heard of before but thankfully the wife is an ex nurse).Starting to pick up now, just a runny nose and a tickly cough, but clearly on the mend.

I hope you're feeling well too. Angina is a pain. They've put me on a slow release gtn pill and I've been totally angina free since coming out of hospital. Might be worth mentioning it?

Have a lovely Christmas and a well New year.

[Kristin1812 Heart Star in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. You, too. It’s good to hear you are now recovering……..just in time for your Christmas dinner! I am on the gtn slow release version…..but thanks for mentioning. It worked v well for me…for a good while!

[LaceyLady]

Couple weeks ago I had a right debacle getting attention from 111 and 999, suspected strangulated femoral hernia!Husband was going to take me but I said I’d end up in the waiting room with everyone for hours! Ambulance took me in and I was STILL put in the waiting room even though I was given morphine! 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Kristin1812 Heart Star in reply to LaceyLady]

Things seem very tight don’t they? Feels a bit like our safety net is slipping.

[Janma123]

Hi, Kristin, we had a similar experience a few weeks ago on a Saturday night, hubby had chest and left arm pain that wouldn’t subside. Dialled 999 and was told there was an 90 minute wait for an ambulance and suggesting driving to the nearest A&E. I declined feeling that if urgent help was needed we were safer at home. A paramedic arrived after about 30 minutes and the ambulance about 30mins after, he was taken into hospital and spent 4 days in the cardiology department.I would driven in during the day but didn’t fancy it in the middle of a wet night and I wouldn’t have gone to the one suggested either ( not even sure it opens on a Saturday night!

[Geejay1709]

Morning Kristin, I was advised by the 999 operator that if I could get myself to A&E I should because we'd wait hours for an ambulance, that was a Friday night. When we got to A&E there were about 12 ambulances in the car park with patients in them waiting to be checked in!The emergency care once I got there was second to none🙂The second time on a Monday morning the ambulance was here in minutes.

[MaggieSylvie]

Ordering an ambulance is the last resort unless you need a stretcher.

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

When the 999 operator suggests you take a car, I’m pretty sure they only do it because you are likely to get skilled help earlier that way.But that’s a very upsetting story. In normal times I’m pretty sure no one would think it was better to take a car….and for exactly the reasons you give.

[Turnipgirl]

When I had blood clots in the lungs back in 2017 I got the bus and dragged myself into a and e and my friends asked how did you manage to walk into a and e seriously ill?

[Qualipop]

Trouble there is you often have to wait longer to be seen than if you go by ambulance. The paramedics can queue jump.