Patient in Västerbotten had painful urinary retention – was not allowed to go with the ambulance

Urinary incontinence means that the bladder does not empty, which leads to severe stomach pains and that one needs emergency help to empty the bladder.

An ambulance – large area

The patient who suffered from acute urinary retention called an ambulance. After paramedics tried to treat the patient on the spot, they referred him to the emergency department by taxi the last part of the way, instead of by ambulance. In addition, they gave the patient too little pain relief.

– It was an event that took place quite a distance from the hospital. The ambulance that was available was the only one available in a large catchment area. It was taken into account when the patient was assessed. It was a logistical exercise given the circumstances, says chief physician Sofie Jacobsson.

Reevaluation should have been done

In its lex Maria report to the Inspectorate for Care and Care, Region Västerbotten writes that it was a reasonable assessment of the patient’s initial condition, but when his condition later deteriorated a reassessment should have been made.

– A condition like this can become increasingly painful. The situation should have been reassessed. The patient has been exposed to unnecessary pain, so we make a report, says Sofie Jacobsson.

Unnecessary pain

“The choice of mode of transport combined with insufficient pain relief is deemed to have been experienced as undignified and unnecessarily painful,” the report states.

– The ambulance service will review its routines when this condition is reviewed. Then it’s about communication with the hospital, says chief physician Sofie Jacobsson.

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