tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post3506229367166903438..comments2023-07-18T07:27:08.516+00:00Comments on Siren Voices: notoriousSpence Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-18500653428630355682012-05-21T06:07:25.977+00:002012-05-21T06:07:25.977+00:00Hi BL
It's difficult to know whether any of wh...Hi BL<br />It's difficult to know whether any of what I said got through to her. No - wait - strike that - <i>none</i> of it had any effect, because she was on the phone again the moment we were out the door. And the frustrating thing was, despite Control's assurances that she wouldn't get anyone else out that night, barely an hour later another truck was being dispatched!<br /><br />I think the crux of it is - whilst she's still deemed to have capacity, she can call 999 with impunity on the basis that no-one can tell if she really needs help or not. <br /><br />Like I said somewhere, I do feel sorry for her. I don't think the system as it stands is doing anyone any favours.<br /><br />Lovely to hear from you, BL. Hope all's good with you.Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-64957926551756168872012-05-20T21:09:55.110+00:002012-05-20T21:09:55.110+00:00So pleased that you put your foot down. I wonder i...So pleased that you put your foot down. I wonder if she realises that you've had enough of pandering to her.<br /><br />I can't make any useful suggestions (I have no medical or social experience) but I am impressed that you refused her wishes. Sounds like it's time for someone else to step in and give her the support she actually needs.Bagladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03997388396773480963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-53668398149746903302012-05-20T18:28:03.019+00:002012-05-20T18:28:03.019+00:00Hey thanks, Susan!
BTW - Re. your piece about wri...Hey thanks, Susan!<br /><br />BTW - Re. your piece about writing female characters (http://superearthling.blogspot.co.uk/). I think Bella in Twilight prob falls into that TSTL category! I just caught the second film - New Moon - and I felt sorry for Kristen Stewart (apart from her millions). It struck me what a woefully sappy part she had in it. Maybe it's just me. Further proof I'm not a teenager any more... :/Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-66107320921754558782012-05-20T17:45:15.362+00:002012-05-20T17:45:15.362+00:00I happened to see a link to your blog on someone e...I happened to see a link to your blog on someone else's blog and clicked it out of curiosity. What a fabulous surprise!<br /><br />I just loved this article. It was so interesting to get a glimpse into your profession and thought process. :)<br /><br />--SusanSusan Bodendo/Super Earthlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10552499547660991944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-5829155511331724392012-05-15T22:10:35.509+00:002012-05-15T22:10:35.509+00:00Hi Anon
I suppose it must be the same in A&E d...Hi Anon<br />I suppose it must be the same in A&E depts across the country. Accounts for an awful lot of wasted resource. <br /><br />The thing is, with a lot of these patients, their lifestyles often do make them very susceptible to sudden illness. We had one bariatric FF who did eventually die of a PE. Not all that surprising, but Control would point to that particular episode and say: 'Well, she was definitely in trouble that time. So it goes to show that we should treat each call seriously.' Frustrating.Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-46715139516059554442012-05-15T20:50:05.558+00:002012-05-15T20:50:05.558+00:00We had loads of frequent flyers when I worked in A...We had loads of frequent flyers when I worked in A&E.<br /><br />One woman would call 999 every time her daughter went shopping, claiming chest pain. Her daughter would land in the dept, they'd refuse all tests and walk out, after a sandwich and a cup of tea of course! She'd be in 3 or 4 times a week.<br /><br />Another man would be in almost everyday, complaining of aches and pains all over. One day he was found in the town in cardiac arrest... Ended up in ITU before they pulled the plug.<br /><br />We also had loads of regular OD'ers, never taking enough to do any damage either.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-45682477810825542952012-05-15T13:50:43.204+00:002012-05-15T13:50:43.204+00:00Thanks Anon. I think you're right - social iso...Thanks Anon. I think you're right - social isolation and loneliness cause an awful lot of suffering, which often manifests itself in high use of social & health services, either directly through multiple attendances, or indirectly through the effects of over-eating & drinking. It's also true that plain ol' human interaction is pretty much all that's needed to get them back to normal. <br /><br />And I'm sure you're right that loneliness is an important contributory factor with Vera. I don't think it explains it completely, though. I know that Vera's had plenty of contact with various social agencies, many of which would no doubt have tried to steer her in the direction of clubs &c. But Vera obviously gets something else from repeated 999, something she can't get anywhere else. I know she's elderly, but the staggering volume of her calls must surely count as sociopathic. If she was just lonely, why would she go to such lengths to feign immobility / ill health / pain - to the extent she gets wheeled into A&E, and then half an hour strides out to a taxi? Surely she'd stay longer in A&E at the very least! That's four or five hours in the company of others, right there!<br /><br />A difficult problem, and one that needs sorting out. Obviously we want Vera to be happy, as much as we want her to stop calling. No-one's getting anything out of the current set-up. <br /><br />Thanks for the comment, Anon. That dog-visiting thing sounded like a lovely thing to do.<br /><br /><br />Lydia,<br /><br />You and me both! :/Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-75908582319336649312012-05-15T12:11:00.422+00:002012-05-15T12:11:00.422+00:00I am bemused as to why there isn't some kind o...I am bemused as to why there isn't some kind of system to say after x number of calls in y time period, you will be charged z amount for any which are non-emergencies... *sigh* well done you. keep going!Lydianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-13144411956074797402012-05-15T08:24:07.630+00:002012-05-15T08:24:07.630+00:00Spence
In the 80's I used to do dog visits. T...Spence<br /><br />In the 80's I used to do dog visits. Taking my dog to people who no longer had pets. Once we got a request by a Doctor to visit a Lady whom he felt needed something.<br /><br />When Claire took her dog for a visit(we used to do it weekly), she had their ear talked off(we where all SJA cadets).Claire suggested to this Lady that she visit a lunch club and kept on being told no, in the end Claire told the Lady that the lunch club was looking for help and would she mind helping and she agreed. 3 weeks later she dropped off the list as the Lady was spending 4 days a week "helping" at the lunch club and felt our visit would assist someone else more.<br /><br />The reason the Doctor asked for the visit was the same as Vera, our Lady stopped calling 2 weeks after we started visiting. A year later Claire got a message the lady had mentioned her in her will and left her a letter. In the letter the Lady said that Claire was the first person she had seen in 3 years to talk to.<br /><br />My experance taught me that there is a lot of lonely people out there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-19929696884488272682012-05-15T07:11:27.070+00:002012-05-15T07:11:27.070+00:00Hi NSM
I'm sure there is a waiting list. An ad...Hi NSM<br />I'm sure there is a waiting list. An advert in the back of The Daily Pain - Wanted, Frequent Flyer, must have some acting experience. Props will be provided. &c &c. :/Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-67930745743078424112012-05-14T20:54:54.803+00:002012-05-14T20:54:54.803+00:00I find thinking new and inventive methods of deali...I find thinking new and inventive methods of dealing with regulars is a good way of getting through these jobs. They're a nightmare, it does seem as though when one goes another pops up in their place it's as though there is a waiting list somewhat akin to a council housing list!northern stretcher monkeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01644587479876979871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-91675091192854378372012-05-14T15:49:28.257+00:002012-05-14T15:49:28.257+00:00Cheers Hannah (quite literally). That's the th...Cheers Hannah (quite literally). That's the thing - a big glass of wine, prn.<br /><br />Hi Jacks<br />Vera is absolutely the modern version of the crying wolf story. Except I think in the story the villagers stop going to help after a while. We never seem to learn. I like the wolf aspect though. Maybe next time Vera calls we should send in a wolf dressed in ambulance uniform - maybe that would dampen her enthusiasm. <br /><br />Anyway, I def think Vera needs the situation made plain, whatever that takes. As far as competency goes, a doctor at the A&E had it right when he said the multiple attendances should be proof enough that she's not behaving rationally. :/Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-50625379148987645012012-05-14T06:56:20.801+00:002012-05-14T06:56:20.801+00:00I think we can all rely on Frank to provide the co...I think we can all rely on Frank to provide the coup de grace to these sorts of events Spence.I don't envy you,the boy who cried wolf and all that.I think you handled it the correct way and Control (always makes me think of John Le Carre) got it wrong by sending another crew out.<br /><br />I don't know what the answer is.Maybe Vera should be taken in,put into somewhere we she can't discharge herself and keep her in overnight.Lots of tubes and wires and cables.But then that wastes other peoples time I suppose.<br /><br />Frank's advice of think what someone else you admire do might work.Daniel Craig,walther ppk?jacksofbuxtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05420847156401984373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-81110978664752279072012-05-13T22:07:00.778+00:002012-05-13T22:07:00.778+00:00Spence, you do a really demanding job, really well...Spence, you do a really demanding job, really well!<br />I have no tips for dealing with frustration, but a glass of wine in the evening does do wonders, for my nervy self!<br />oxoxHannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08819262159652755479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-78365833422334707552012-05-13T11:28:37.646+00:002012-05-13T11:28:37.646+00:00tpals - I think there should def be some penalty f...tpals - I think there should def be some penalty for frequent flyer / hoax / inappropriate calls. I'm sure we could work out a useful system that protected genuine cases. Worth a try at least!<br /><br />Steve - It's like these cases have fallen between the cracks of comm health / social services / MH teams. But they do soak up a lot of resource, so it's worth setting something up. I mean - they're obviously unhappy and in need of something. <br /><br />As a side note - I'm amazed that the neighbours don't make more of a fuss. These calls are often in the early hours - it must be horrendous to have a never-ending series of noisy diesel trucks with slamming doors and beeping ramps waking you up all the time. <br /><br />Hannah - Very sorry I misinterpreted your comment. I'm a grumpy & paranoid bear late at night (plus, normally if I'm not sure about a post or a comment, I'll run it past Kath, because she's much better at reading these things than me. She's away for the weekend though, so I was flying without a safety net. A lesson there for me.<br /><br />I think you're right about the inconsistency of approach. Some crews def make a fuss of her, which makes it worse. Like I said, I can understand why they do it - you're first responsibility is to your crew mate and your own mental health, so you do what you have to do to protect yourself from the effects of stress; you relax / take comfort where and when you can - which sometimes means kicking back on the sofa of a frequent flyer & taking a slow trip up the hospital. <br /><br />I feel like I'm losing my reserves of patience, to be honest. The more you engage with these long-running problems, the more frustrated you become. I think I need a career change, or a sabbatical at the very least!<br /><br />Anon - I'd say we have about a half dozen hardcore FFs in our area. When one dies, there's always another to take their place. I think the Trust should make much more of an effort to target them, but at the moment it takes a phenomenal level of calls before there's any sense of movement at all - and even then, that's often just a series of ineffectual group emails describing the problem and offering advice. But still the calls go on, still Cat A Chest Pains or whatever, and when you question it you're told that the call taker cannot be certain that this particular call isn't a real emergency, so we have to attend. Even though a crew was round there just an hour ago. It's enough to send you mad, I tell you. Maaaad. *sigh* *meds* *zzzz*<br /><br />***<br /><br />Thanks for your comments. Very much appreciated!Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-12620948413612296492012-05-13T09:10:25.771+00:002012-05-13T09:10:25.771+00:00I'll bet that post struck a chord with lots of...I'll bet that post struck a chord with lots of other ambulance staff, all over the country. Frequent Flyers is the kind way of referring to them, and every station has at least one. There is no answer to the problem, as if you dont attend then one day Vera will have corked it, and the press will have themselves one of their favourite stories. You're dammed if you do, and dammed if you don't. You have my deepest sympathy....which helps not one jot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-83829475547786621492012-05-13T05:56:05.907+00:002012-05-13T05:56:05.907+00:00No, no seriously. I bet you are literally a great ...No, no seriously. I bet you are literally a great dad!!!! <br />You explain to Vera why her behaviour is unacceptable, you talk her through the consequences, you set up a clear protocol for how her behaviour will be dealt with and set appropriate limits!<br />You actually come across as ever patient and compassionate! <br />The story kind of reads like Veras a child looking for the limits, one parent sets them just to be undermined by the other.... <br />Sorry Spence! My online sarcasm translator must be broken..Hannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08819262159652755479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-85227623177575844782012-05-13T02:54:32.686+00:002012-05-13T02:54:32.686+00:00I live in a complex with elderly, and some are ...I live in a complex with elderly, and some are 'at sea' so to speak. One lady gets lonely, and calls 911 at least weekly. The first responders talk to her for a few minutes, then she's good for another week. Meanwhile, 8 responders and two trucks are idling around, unavailable for others. Maybe we should start charging her (and Vera) so much per call????Steve'nLubbockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08077522441953030901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-19419318726849343652012-05-13T02:20:32.468+00:002012-05-13T02:20:32.468+00:00You go, Spence!
Nothing will change unless someo...You go, Spence! <br /><br />Nothing will change unless someone speaks out and even little old ladies should have to face the consequences of their actions. Here she would have been charged for every one of those trips to the hospital and very few can afford a hobby like that.tpalshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05646231041413714929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-7302010374641787272012-05-13T00:00:59.467+00:002012-05-13T00:00:59.467+00:00Hi Becca
That sounds like a really good idea. A lo...Hi Becca<br />That sounds like a really good idea. A lot more tenable. Because you're right - she does need someone, just not us.<br /><br />I don't know what the GP's said about it. It'd be interesting to know - they can't be unaware of the amount of call-outs.<br /><br />Hi Hannah<br />Ouch! That sounds harsh! Do I come across as very authoritarian, then? (Or have I misunderstood your comment - I must admit I'm a bit confused by it).<br /><br />The fact is, Vera calls out the ambulance all the time, for no reason, and it's incredibly frustrating that nothing's ever done about it. I feel sorry for her, but it's a waste of time and money - and could be dangerous. I'd hate to think of anyone having to wait for an ambulance because the nearest one was tied up like that.Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-2478289802104241972012-05-12T22:59:12.357+00:002012-05-12T22:59:12.357+00:00Hooray for Spence!
I bet your a great dad... all t...Hooray for Spence!<br />I bet your a great dad... all those boundaries and sensible explanations of course it's all undone when the misses comes in and undermines your authority... <br />How frustrating!<br />oxoxHannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08819262159652755479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-67925910566070165332012-05-12T22:24:15.190+00:002012-05-12T22:24:15.190+00:00I wonder if there's any sort of befriending se...I wonder if there's any sort of befriending service or similar offered by local community organisations - could the ritual of paramedics, pat slide and obs be replaced by one of tea, cake and photographs of grandchildren?<br /><br />She needs SOMEONE, that much is obvious. But not you. Nowhere close. What does her GP say?Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15436653419185638854noreply@blogger.com