No Hospital Transport

A.J._3-2

Are you on benefit? I only ask as you should be able to get a community care grant to help with cost and overnight stay? this depends on the benefit you are on and if you are in the UK. COnsider ringing local office and enquire, dont be fobbed off with long wait to process . if urgent can be faxed/fast tracked? just wondered if this would be of help.
Good luck either way.
A.J.

LondonDiva

Red_Doe wrote: »

This is going to sound sad...but, I don`t have any friends to stay with!
I`m to phone the hospital Monday, the GP is the one who made the appointment but after battling the health authorities to try and get decent OP transport in this area and being told no, she`s given up...basically, they leave the patient to sort it out! :mad:
Don`t think I`ve explained the distances very well...I can pay my own way to get there and indeed, that`s what I did to get to the dentist in the same town. But there`s absolutely no way, doing that, to have my appointment and get back home on the same day. So that means an overnight stay. Which I don`t have the money for. I`ll throw myself on the mercy of the hospital though and see what they say.
If the hospital can arrange transport, I don`t mind what time of night I get home, at least it will save me and the NHS the cost of putting me up for the night.

I'm still not very clear.

Yes you live in an out of the way place and travel is a faff, but you or your GP need to explain the medical condition that means you need a hospital ambulance/transport to get you there and back rather than under your own steam.

Lara44

Hi Red Doe

That sounds harsh. I wonder if there's any accommodation for medical staff on site they might be able to put you up in? Is there anyone you could borrow the money from? There's loads of ways on the Up Your Income board to make some small extra money online such as surveys, trials etc. Good luck

FBaby

The NHS pays for medical need, not social. If you have a condition that mean you can't use public transport, they are liable to fund, however, if the problem is where you live and/or finances, it is not for the NHS to pick up the costs.

Have you contacted social services to see if they'd consider your situation as a social need?

seasalt_2

I'm not sure that's quite true. I also live in a remote area (but better transport links by the sound of it), also part of NHS Highland, and patients DO get help with transport and accommodation costs - ALL patients, not just those on benefits - or at least until Wednesday, we do! We are entitled to a travel warrant from GP (patient contribution payable direct to ferry/airline is £10) and this covers return boat or air tickets. We can also claim up to £25 (I think it is now - I usually stay with family so don't claim) for B&B if we have to stay overnight (inevitable from here) and train/bus fares or petrol costs on the mainland., although these have to be paid upfront first and hospital has to countersign the claim form. and, again, we pay the first £10.

We used to be part of Argyll and Clyde Health Board so original NHS Highland Area may be different and it may be that it just applies to island residents. Although I have to say that even within airlines/ferry companies that operate the system, only the local staff are aware of it. Mainland offices routinely deny all knowledge of it. But, from what you say, I can't imagine your GP wouldn't know about it,if it existed in your area.

ETA Sorry - I meant to say that your GP WOULD know about it if it existed.

Also, to those who think patients should just fork out themselves, is it really fair that a hospital appointment should cost someone who lives in a remote area £100+ to attend (not to mention a possible two day loss of earnings) or be prevented from accessing necessary health care services because they can't afford to travel?

Lastly, no use for this time, but for the future, hospitals are quite good, once they understand the situation, at rearranging appointments so that you could eg combine a hospital appt with your visit to the dentist rather than having to make two trips.

FBaby

well, I work for a pct and deal for patient transport, so I know that this is the direction the NHS is taking, especially in light of all the saving we need to make, but yeah, this will take place at different stages depending on pcts priority, and understandbly areas where public transport is a real issue might not be affected right away or in the same way.

Of course cost is an issue, but this is where help with travel costs comes into line. If you leave in a remote area and know you are likely to have regular appointments coming in the near future, you want to be sure to save so you can advance the money and claim reinbursement asap. As a matter of fact, most hospitals will provide reimbursement right there and then.

LondonDiva

seasalt wrote: »

Also, to those who think patients should just fork out themselves, is it really fair that a hospital appointment should cost someone who lives in a remote area £100+ to attend (not to mention a possible two day loss of earnings) or be prevented from accessing necessary health care services because they can't afford to travel?

My understanding is that the OP wasn't refused reimbursement of transport costs, he was refused an ambulance / patient transport organised by the hospital.

Morglin

We had the same problem when we lived out in the sticks - despite both having disabilities, and there being a total lack of public transport, at the times needed for the appointments, the PCT just wouldn't fund or help with travel, on the occasions my husband couldn't drive there (I am not allowed to drive now).:mad:

In the end, we had to use a local travel lodge, so we could get there by bus the day before, and get a cab from there to the hospital on the day and time of the appointment - a very expensive option but cheaper than cabs both ways from the village we lived in.

The local council stopped funding for the voluntary car service, that had previously operated, so that shut down.

Finally, it all got too much, and we moved back to a London borough, and the problems are all solved now.

Country living is only really much good for the young and fit nowadays - it's a nightmare when you start to need services.

Lin

Kittendreich

Just a note to help you work out what you are entitled to if you are going to pursue this with MP, MSP, Hospital Board etc (which you should). The NHS is different in Scotland and England so some of the info in posts above won't apply (no PCTs or PALS in Scotland).

Whilst it is a choice to live in remote areas and this will compromise the services that can be provided for you - the NHS should do what it can to provide routine healthcare as well as emergency (prevention may be cheaper than sending the chopper out for you if it is left to deteriorate).

Have you spoken to someone at the ambulance service? They are a separate organisation from the health board and provide non-urgent transport where patients are unable to use public transport or use a taxi.

nottslass_2

Have you asked at your GP's surgery if there are any volunteer drivers that will take you ?

The local church or The WRVS often have volunteer drivers for this type of scenario.

Good luck