So upset! (Ambulance and elderly neighbours)

I'm sure it would be confidentiality. Don't beat yourself up about it, how were you to know?

Perhaps you could ask their son for a contact number (if you don't have it already) and ask whether he could let you know in future if there is any change in their circumstances, in the light of what has happened recently?

Confidentiality. They can't tell you.

Not your fault. You sound like a lovely neighbour

Well they told my neighbor when ambulance was outside our house. She phoned me. Guess that it depends on who you get.

They really shouldn’t be giving you any information. To be honest we get so many people knocking on the door and asking who have absolutely no connection to the patient and just want to know. In future just knock on the neighbours door and ask them if everything is ok.

What is it you are feeling bad about? Because you weren’t told? I am not sure I am understanding why you feel bad.

You sound a very nice neighbour don't worry.

Perhaps you could have knocked a little later, after the ambulance had gone,and asked her if everything was OK. And did she need anything.

Sadly the paramedics may have come across people who prey on the elderly when they are ill so would not give out any information to you.
I helped an older lady who was having a fit on the floor of marks and Spencer's and someone in the middle of the drama stole her handbag.
Worked in frontline NHS for 40 years and have seen the good and bad in people.
Keep being a good neighbour.

You thought you were doing the right thing but the ambulance service have to be very aware of a persons privacy and confidentiality is so important now. Please don't be upset. Just continue to do what you can for your elderly neighbours. So many elderly have no one to look out for them. You are not wrong yo be caring.

It can shake people up seeing ambulances at neighbours houses. I think I would have had to knock the door a wee bit later on though just to check all is ok.
Maybe a conversation about what they would need from you if the situation were to arise again.

We’re always being told to look after our elderly neighbours, so you must feel very hurt that the paramedics brushed you off like this. However, I don’t know if that is to do with confidentiality or just that they needed to get on with their job.

Clearly the wife needs even more support now, so I’m sure you can help there.

Why wouldn’t the paramedics tell me?

It is a confidentiality issue.

You are a good neighbour dont worry.If you wish to help the wife whilst her hubby is in hospital, just knock & ask if she needs anything.But yes good advice to get their sons number, just in case of anything again, also you do say he visits regularly, so maybe next time he visits you could pop over & introduce yourself (if he doesn't already know you?) & maybe get his number then?or give him yours& ask if he would let you know if they need help another time? And 'a good half hour away' is next to nothing in a car really, is it? Maybe he will visit even more often after this perhaps.

Paramedics wont tell anyone. I was carted off in an ambulance and theybtold me a neighbour had been asking but that they dont say anything.

Patient confidentiality, that's all.
I bet they often have had nosy parkers ask for information about their patient, so they just have a blanket "no" answer.

My mother lives in an assisted living home. The manager has the same problem, she always asks but they always say no
She could have vital information which would be useful
She has given up trying to be helpful and other residents have suffered including my mother.

i can reassure you it was only because they were not allowed to tell you who it was as this would be a breach of your neighbours confidentially it is standard practice now a days

Would have thought that during these Covid times the ambulance people would have given it a bit more thought. They needn’t have gone into detail but could have directed the OP to the wife, instead of basically telling her a lie - and leaving a vulnerable lady on her own after taking her husband to hospital.

Confidentiality - how do the paramedics know who you are and that you really are a good friend.........

Jaffacake2

Sadly the paramedics may have come across people who prey on the elderly when they are ill so would not give out any information to you.
I helped an older lady who was having a fit on the floor of marks and Spencer's and someone in the middle of the drama stole her handbag.
Worked in frontline NHS for 40 years and have seen the good and bad in people.
Keep being a good neighbour.

Unfortunately, there is always someone hovering, ready to steal at these incidents. They often offer to hold a coat, a handbag or shopping, then just tiptoe away when everyone is busy.
I usually put my foot on the handbag to safeguard it.

Just a confidential issue.

Why wouldn’t the paramedics tell me?

Perhaps they were busy sorting out what needed to be sorted and found it unhelpful to have someone not involved asking questions.