oh no, taxicard!

Barneysmom

Not necessarily, my hubby gets picked up less than an hour before his appointment. I guess it depends on the area, and how many people the driver has to pick up on the day.
Give yours a ring and see what they say, it's worth a phone call.

poppy_f1

they have it here in west lothian aswell,i dont know if there has been any changes,my mum hasnt said shes heard anything

qwertyuiop12345

sheeps68 wrote: »

Wish I could donate you some of my journeys. I do use it but not that much as have had nightmares in getting cabs when needed and generally easier on me to drive. Think it would be useless to me if my borough stopped the double swipe option as even local town centre is a double swipe these days since last hike in taxi fares. If however I could do a triple swipe it would help me so much I cant tell you.

The really annoying thing is that I don't ever use my full quota of journeys, but whenever I do use them I currently use several at a time. You can't get anywhere useful on a single swipe, partially because of the traffic.

I've been wondering what they would say if I booked a taxi half way to the hospital and then got out and sat by the side of the road waiting, whilst calling another taxi out to come take me the rest of the way? Surely wouldn't be against the new rules, but given the half-hour-plus wait it usually takes for the taxi to arrive and the time it takes to get through on the phoneline it would be a long cold journey to hospital!

I will still use taxicard now they have stopped double swipes because I have no choice about going to hospital - it is just going to cost me a lot of money.

If it was really about helping people with mobility problems get out then they would allow us to use our quota in whatever way helps most.

qwertyuiop12345

sh1305 wrote: »

Yes they do. I asked about it on here, adn was warned that they take you when they feel like it (ie, a few hours before your appointment) and not when your appointment actually is.

That's what I've been told by the hospital - I might be able to apply to be picked up in a patient bus, but it would be first thing in the morning, then they take everyone back home again at the end of the day. This won't work for me as I am not really well enough to sit in a hospital waiting room all day.

Also, it seems you have to book it in advance, but I usually have appointments that are made at short notice.

qwertyuiop12345

skcollobcat10 wrote: »

Would Dial A Bus be available in your area?

There is something called Dial a Ride in London but the website says it can't be used for hospital appointments.

I'm going to try to look into it and other possible different transport options, so thanks for the suggestion.

jodie114

thats the annoying thing, i used to get 120 trips a year, the highest band for my borough, thats being reduced to 104, thats not a problem, i only use maybe, 30-40 but at double swipe.
And as for reducing my carbon footprint, and getting my shopping delivered... i was actually mentioning maybe having the odd day out in a shopping centre with the help of the shop mobility etc... actually being able to get to the local harvester, or even take my son to a birthday party....
its madness!!!

lynzpower

Im wondering why this is , is this because your journeys are longer- 30-40 quid in a cab is a fair old way, I take it you are not attending your local hospital?

Do you receive any direct payments for care?

Penny-Pincher!!

jodie114 wrote: »

thats the annoying thing, i used to get 120 trips a year, the highest band for my borough, thats being reduced to 104, thats not a problem, i only use maybe, 30-40 but at double swipe.
And as for reducing my carbon footprint, and getting my shopping delivered... i was actually mentioning maybe having the odd day out in a shopping centre with the help of the shop mobility etc... actually being able to get to the local harvester, or even take my son to a birthday party....
its madness!!!

Can I ask what London Borough you are in?

If you only use 80 swipes per annum, you still have the remianing 20+ swipes to do what you wish with.

PP

hobbledehoy.

Hello,

I thought that if you are on a low income, you recover from the hospital, the travelling expenses.
I know I do.
They either pay the train fare, bus fare, or mileage.

If the OP doesn't come within that, then it will be deemed that the income will be over what is considered to be the minimum that the OP needs to live on, and as such should be able to fund the cost themselves.

Why a taxi? What is wrong with public transport or the voluntary pickup scheme that hospitals operate?

lynzpower

hobbledehoy. wrote: »

Hello,

I thought that if you are on a low income, you recover from the hospital, the travelling expenses.
I know I do.
They either pay the train fare, bus fare, or mileage.

If the OP doesn't come within that, then it will be deemed that the income will be over what is considered to be the minimum that the OP needs to live on, and as such should be able to fund the cost themselves.

Why a taxi? What is wrong with public transport or the voluntary pickup scheme that hospitals operate?

The taxi card scheme was set up as the HS simply couldn't do all the running around. Plus it is cheaper to pay a taxi than pay staff.

Besides if the private sector can do something that the public did, then the public sector is cut and the private sector used. thats the UK for you!

Taxicard is a good scheme there was no alternative when I used to support my clients in getting them.