AMBULANCE

 

10.30am Monday 20 September 2021

Frank went to hospital breathing, talking, cognitive. Frank was not in a critical condition.

AMBULANCE EVENTS - MONDAY 20 SEPTEMBER 2021

7.30am

Batemans Bay NSW: Nada left Batemans Bay NSW for Queanbeyan NSW. Nada called Frank 9 times. No answer.

[Since June 2021 Nada was caring for her 84 year old father full-time who suffered a stroke in May. Frank remained in Queanbeyan to complete the restoration of his classic cars and travelled to Batemans Bay weekends. Frank and Nada planned to permanently move to Batemans Bay Christmas 2021).

8.45am

Bungendore NSW: Nada phoned Krista, Frank’s youngest daughter:

  • to tell Krista Frank was not answering his phone and that he was in trouble;

  • to let Krista know Nada was driving to Queanbeyan to Frank; and

  • to obtain Nada’s house from Krista (Krista had borrowed Nada’s car, and had Nada’s house and car keys].

Despite living 5 minutes away, Krista chose not to enter the unit for 30 minutes, nor go to her father’s aid, knowing he was in trouble and was possibly in a diabetic coma.

9.20am

Queanbeyan NSW: Nada arrived at their Queanbeyan apartment to find Frank weak in physical strength, sitting on the hallway steps, unable to stand up. Frank was a Type 1 diabetic who lived with regular bouts of low and/or high blood sugar. Weakness in strength and slowed speech were typical symptoms for Frank in periods of low or high blood sugar.

Nada sat on the stairs next to Frank and said, “Baby, I can’t fix this, I have to call the ambulance”. Frank said to Nada, “Get me some undies and track pants”, and “I’m cold, get me a blanket”.

9.30am

Nada called 000 ambulance.

9.52am

Ambulance arrived. Ambulance officer asked Frank’s date of birth. Nada incorrectly said 1 October 1961. Frank corrected Nada to say “1962”.

Nada asked ambulance officers to take Frank to Batemans Bay Hospital. Nada’s request was refused on grounds that the ambulance must go to the nearest hospital. Frank’s last words to Nada, “Batemans Bay”, because he wanted to go to Batemans Bay with Nada.

9.55am

Following assessment, ambulance officers determined “no immediate life threat”. Therefore Frank was not at risk of dying.

Ambulance officers determined Frank:

  • was unwell;

  • hyperglycaemic “HI” reading (High blood sugar);

  • acute renal failure (kidney failure) (Frank was on medication to “maintain” his kidney health);

  • low temperature 34.6 degrees celcius;

  • tachypnoenic (rapid breathing); and

  • weak pulse.

Medications:  Novomix (insulin), Ventolin (asthma), prexium (blood pressure).

The ambulance report states Frank was verbally confused, which was typical during episodes of low or high blood sugar, however Frank always restored his blood sugar level back to normal within 15-30 minutes.

More importantly, the ambulance report states Frank obeyed commands (motor skills) which evidences Frank was fully cognitive.

Therefore Frank went into hospital talking, breathing and fully cognitive.

10.30am

Frank was despatched from his home in Queanbeyan to Queanbeyan District Hospital which was a 3 minute drive.

10.33am

Frank arrived at Queanbeyan District Hospital.

Ambulance Report