Transport to & from hospital?

hermanmunster_3

BRIANCARSON wrote: »

To hermanmunster

I did not mention flights as we presume she was paying for them herself - all the other patients were NHS patients so we presume she was from a EU Country but she was in and out so quickly we never got the chance to speak to her.

There is a few ways that people can be seen quicker { having been treated for the past two years with Cancer I could write a book about them }
If a patient ticks they don't speak English the Hospital will have a interpreter waiting and in those cases they are seen quickly by the Consultant as the interpreter is paid by the hour.

On a normal day there would be two times where the interpreter was waiting but the patient for unknown reasons did not show up.

While the treatment phase does not have any major delays the same cannot be said while you are waiting to be seen by a Consultant.

I am being seen by three separate Hospitals and they all have delays between two to three hours when seeing a Consultant - its highly frustrating when non English patient are able to jump the queue in this way.

---

I was lucky as I was able to make my way to the Hospital { two bus's each way } but I did speak to others who had to hang about for Hospital transport and they did have a long wait.

Sorry you have had such a bad time waiting around hospitals. I reckon the London hospitals I worked in were much much worse than the ones outside London for making people waiting and organising clinics. The hospitals where I live now seem to have got their appointments system rather better sorted. Last time I was seen in an NHS hospital I waited 5 minutes to see the consultant (waited longer at a private hosp - probably coz i was too early ooops).
Interesting re transport though - used to find that people HAD to be seen v quickly because they were on transport ... did not think this was fair on others.

soolin

My mother has had to give up with the free transport as she was often collected at early as 8am for a 2pm appointment and as she has limited mobility she was unable to even get anything to eat or visit the loo all the while she waited and she just couldn't go on like it.

She then went onto the Red cross volunteer scheme where she paid just petrol money (still quite expensive) but she had soem difficulties with that as they were limited in how much they were allowed to help her due to 'elf and safety'.

She now pays a private taxi as it is the only way she can manage her appointments.

Indie_Kid

Glyndwr wrote: »

I am frequently out for a very long day. Even though I'm not physically doing anything I'm often exhausted & uncomfortable.

This is my main concern. It's on a Friday and I'm usually (as a result of disability) shattered. I do also want to get home as soon as possible.

I have no idea how long I'm going to be there for - last time, it was an hour; but this time I've been informed that I need to have a visual field test. How long that takes; I don't know.

NHS LIS does not allow for taxis except where for example public transport does not exist & it has to be agreed in advance). They pay for the cheapest form of public transport, then car mileage (anything from 11-35p in my experience and they may or may not refund parking).

Whilst public transport does exist; it's being able get on to the transport and home safely. I am having eye drops put in; so my vision will be blurry for a few hours - this makes getting home a nightmare.

I will be seen at the Royal Free.

I have talked to a friend (if I have someone with me; I can cope on public transport ok) but he said that the problem is getting time off work and none of my hallmates can take me. (if it was later; they could)

Glyndwr_2

Royal Free transport leaflet.

You may well find that they say you should stay until the effects of the drops have worn off, therefore you don't need transport. Not saying this will be the case, just that normally if there is a way round an obstacle, they'll find it.

If they do allow you transport, they may review it at the Royal Free each time you attend, but certainly every 3 months/4 visits.

You need to phone the hospital Appointment Centre for them to assess you (as early as possible). At least you'll get an answer then & you can explore other options if necessary.

For volunteer drivers (assuming you're in Camden) try the Camden Volunteer Centre.

BRIANCARSON

hermanmunster wrote: »

Sorry you have had such a bad time waiting around hospitals. I reckon the London hospitals I worked in were much much worse than the ones outside London for making people waiting and organising clinics. The hospitals where I live now seem to have got their appointments system rather better sorted. Last time I was seen in an NHS hospital I waited 5 minutes to see the consultant (waited longer at a private hosp - probably coz i was too early ooops).
Interesting re transport though - used to find that people HAD to be seen v quickly because they were on transport ... did not think this was fair on others.

To hermanmunster - Its only the Consultants that they have a long wait for - the scans and treatment part is like a dream and it could not be bettered - They take amazing care in the planning stage before Radiotherapy starts - I know there was a large team working on the mapping some who I have never met
.
Once Radiotherapy starts they had all four machines working full time - so patients were not kept hanging about.

Funny enough the only time there was no delay in seeing a Consultant was when the Swine Flu story was all over the news - the waiting room was empty.

After Radiotherapy they could cut down on appointments if there was no change in the PSA count but they still demand that they see me every three months which is a bit of a waste in resources.

What is supposed to happen is I see a Consultant { or one of his team } and they issue me with a blood test form - I then have the test and have to attend another Consultant appointment one month later.

I was able to get a hold of two blood test forms so rather than wasting two appointments I have the test two weeks before I see them { by doing it this way they only need to see me once every three months }

I am not sure why they don't do this for everyone as its a waste of time waiting to see a Consultant just so they can write out a blood test form.

All three separate Hospitals are let down by the delays in their Consultant appointments but overall the NHS is a lot better than it used to be.

UKTigerlily

Can't you just get a taxi? I pay £44 a week for them to apointments, if this is a one off it's doable

Savvy_Sue

sh1305 wrote: »

I have talked to a friend (if I have someone with me; I can cope on public transport ok) but he said that the problem is getting time off work and none of my hallmates can take me. (if it was later; they could)

Is there any mileage in you going to the appointment on your own and someone coming over later to meet you from it? Not knowing the distances and times involved, this might not work, but it's what we sometimes did for Dad.

Indie_Kid

UKTigerlily wrote: »

Can't you just get a taxi? I pay £44 a week for them to apointments, if this is a one off it's doable

It's having the money to do so. (it's about £15 to get from the hospital to mine)

Getting there isn't a problem at all - I know (from the TFL & Royal Free sites) how to get there. It's just getting back safely.

Sue - I didn't think of this. Will talk to my hallmates and see what they say.

GlasweJen

is it just tropicamide drops you're getting? if so getting back shouldn't be too much of a problem, have a drink in the cafe to get the worst of the visual effects wear off and you should be fine.

Indie_Kid

I'm not sure. I am also having a visual field test done. Whilst I have been told it's not painful, I do have severe light sensitivity problems.