Getting a senile person to go to hospital

This is not a medical issue. Elderly man who is now senile needs to go to hospital but refuses. He has no next of kin. Public Health Nurse who deals with his case is on holiday & have left messages for other nurses but as yet haven't heard from them. It's an urgent case & don't know how to proceed. thanks

I would contact social services & tell them you feel the person is at risk, or you could contact the persons gp. Or you could try contacting http://www.ageaction.ie/ for advice.

Just call an ambulance - and leave.

WizardDr said:

Just call an ambulance - and leave.

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That's really poor advice. What do you expect an ambulance crew to do? They have no power to make anyone accept treatment, let alone compel them to go with them to hospital.

What would you even tell the emergency dispatcher, and how would you expect them to react when you don't stay on the line as they require? You might find yourself in trouble for wasting emergency services time, or worse still, you might end up causing a delay in attention getting to someone in a life threatening situation.

Hi shopgirl

When you say he won't leave, what do you mean? He won't leave where?

Is he at your home? Is he living on his own?

Leo, are you sure of this:

They have no power to make anyone accept treatment, let alone compel them to go with them to hospital.

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They take drunks and unconscious people all the time. They don't get their consent. That might be different from the current case, but I would have thought that if the ambulance staff determined that the guy needed urgent medical attention, they would be able to take him to hospital for his own good.

@leo with the greatest of respect - you obviously have never dealt with theses type of situations. This is what people have to do, unless you call around.