Not to sound like a bitch, but surely if it was so serious that you needed to be blue lighted to hospital and are in a great deal of pain, then you wouldn't be updating RYL?
Sorry to be cynical, but I've been in this position and the last thing on my mind was updating RYL.
I'm fine! Totally fine. I don't know why it's coming out all loud and squeaky, 'cause really, I'm fine!
I think its definitely a good idea to have an agreed plan with staff. It sounds quite traumatic and disruptive to your life to be constantly back and forth to a&e. Have you thought about getting a medic alert bracelet?
Thanks yeah. Don't know how to set up and agreement with a&e though, how would they see something quick enough? Yeah thought about getting one but wouldn't know what to put on it or how to explain this. I don't even have a diagnosis.
Im not sure how it would work at a&e but could you form a care plan with the staff at Brigid cor what to do if you pass out when your there? It would help them to help you ecfectively. With the medic alert bracelet, i m not sure either. I used to wear one for disso iation as i used to get too confused to remember who i was. So if the police picked me up or i ended up at a&e it would tell them who i was. I just put my name, date of birth and nhs number on it. It actually did help me as a&e could access my notes and identify me and give me the appropriate help. Your case is different but maybe theres a way you could adapt it. Plus there are some cool bracelets and pendants out there!
Yep. They know about it all. In fact we had a support plan in place that said if I passed out at Brigid they wouldn't phone for an ambulance. And then I passed out and they phoned for an ambulance. If I'm conscious I always say no to them and often paramedics say if I don't agree to go they'll call the police. Even when I explain myself.
I don't know. I tried to ask the worker who was going to make me pays and he didn't have an answer. Their grounds are 'it happens a lot and it's expensive' I haven't heard anything more than that. Anyway my mum is furious and is coming down tomorrow (got a cardiology appointment that she's coming along to) so we're going to speak to the guy who said this and the manager.
Update. Had cardiology appointment. They're going to insert a little thing next to my heart that tracks heart rate and sends results back to cardiology. He actually took the situation seriously. My mum and I are both shocked and relieved. Off to talk to Brigid about the whole paying for ambulances thing now.
My mum questioned a key worker extensively and I have to say he did well under the pressure! Apparently the being charged for ambulances comment came from the paramedic/nhs rather than Brigid, Brigid won't be attempting to charge me for it. Apparently it's not actually happening or anything but it might. Anyway the whole thing seems to have been more a misunderstanding than anything else. We're putting in a complain about the agency worker from last night.
I'm skeptical about you being charged for ambulances.
It doesn't happen on the NHS. If someone rings 999 for an ambulance for a legitimate health reason (ie they are not prank phoning) then it's free. If someone is prank phoning then the police get involved.
But there are no charges.
I find it really strange that the NHS threatened to charge you? If you passed out and had pain and an ambulance was called then surely that's a medical problem that needs treatment? Why would they be annoyed about it?
Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back, everything is different…
you once called your brain a hard drive, well say hello to the virus.
I just had it out with the guy who said it and he's basically denying everything. Which is really fucking annoying. He's trying to make it look like I'm making it up. I'll probably be putting in a complaint.
I'm off to appointments this afternoon. This random pain in my side is really killing me but I've already been to a&e too much this week and they couldn't find anything. It's getting me down though I can hardly move. Don't have time to go to my gps and they wouldn't have any appointments anyway.
