Mobility or not?

sunnyone

chajun wrote: »

Yes they are supposed to be giving us some figures?

Chase that up then and be well prepared for a big shock and there are no big firms to undercut them, this is a very expensive field and wheelchair taxis may even be cheaper if your area have proper wheelchair taxis where your FIL can be transported safely in his wheelchair.

Do you have SS involved in your FIL`s care?

sunny

chajun

If you mean social services...Yes

wannabepennypincher

Not sure if this helps but my mum is also on dialysis and goes to Falkirk really early in the morning (about 6.30-7) and gets picked up and dropped off by bus. When she first needed dialysis it was at Glasgow and she got picked up by taxi/private car (not sure which it was provided by the hospital). Because of where she lives she was waiting to go to either Falkirk or Dunfermline (whichever came up first and we didn't know if it would be very early morning or very late at night) and was told she would get free transport regardless of when it was.

I find it really strange that fife, glasgow and falkirk all provide transport for dialysis patients but Edinburgh don't so I'd definately check about that. Maybe even ask other patients how they get there and who organises the transport than asking the hospital itself.

chajun

Thanks will enquire.
Rgds

Paparika

This is going back to the 80's but my mum was on dialysis and whist she had treatment at the hospital her transport was free..

Can she be considered for home dialysis?, our box room was converted into a wet room (without shower) all decorated and new lino that went half way up the wall, paid by the local health authority..

chajun

Hello. if he had home Dialysis he would be on the machine virtually all day as opposed to three 6hr sessions. We have sought advice on this aspect.

anguk

My husband is in a very similar situation as your father-in-law, he is a leg amputee and also has dialysis 3 times a week in the evening slot. As my husband is in his 40's he does have a mobility car and is able to drive himself to hospital most of the time but sometimes he is unable to drive either because he's unwell or is having problems with his stump so can't wear his false leg.

Whenever he is unable to drive the hospital renal unit always arranges for the patient transport ambulance to pick him up and bring him back, even if it's past midnight. The vast majority of patients at my husband's dialysis unit use the patient transport and I think they have 3 ambulances that do each dialysis shift. We live 20 miles away from the hospital with no-one else living nearby so my husband gets an ambulance to himself.

If your wife couldn't transport your father-in-law to dialysis the hospital would HAVE to arrange transport for him, they could not and would not leave him without dialysis. Not everyone has someone who can take them to hospital so transport has to be provided for them.

His renal unit should be arranging his transport for his dialysis, he can also get patient transport for any other hospital visits but these are arranged through his GP.

Your wife really needs to be having a word with someone at the renal unit and explain that she can no longer transport her father to dialysis, they will then have to arrange transport for him. If there are no ambulances available because of his finish time, the hospital will have a contract with a local taxi firm to transport patients.

I'm very surprised that the hospital is being awkward about this, the staff & nurses at my husband's renal unit are fantastic and do everything they can to help.

Be firm with the hospital and don't let them fob you off, your father-in-law is entitled to free transport. Good luck.

chajun

Thanks for the info Anguk
rgds