"I fell at home"

In May I fell at home (I am 88 and live alone). I managed to get from the bedroom to the living room to call an ambulance. I waited over 5 hours for them. Once the crew arrived, they could not get in the house so the police had to be called to open the door.

Once inside they pulled me to my feet and said they were not taking me to hospital. It was after midnight at this point. I had banged my back but was told to stay ay home and that I could look after myself. They told me to come down and put the chain on the door but it was broken.

After they went, I went to bed but I didn’t think was I treated properly by the crew so I called the ambulance service again. They sent a different crew and I was taken to Salford Royal. I was then in hospital for 12 days.

I left hospital and was visited by the rapid response team for 2 weeks. I was offered an option to stay in a rehab facility (I have done this before) but chose to go home. The response team told me I was doing well but they only came for 10 minutes at a time. They asked if I had taken my medication and offered to make me a cup of tea and left. I think it would have been better if they could stay for longer, perhaps half an hour. I don’t think 10 minutes is long enough if people are struggling with mobility.

I have put a complaint in with NWAS about the way I was treated by the fist crew.