Could she get appropriate transport?

zaksmum

I have a friend who's - sadly - terminally ill with cancer, and not expected to live more than about 6 more weeks.

She has a static caravan which she's not been able to go to since early this year.

She's desperate to go just one last time. She has a motability car which her husband drives, but she'd be unable to sit upright long enough for the journey of about an hour.

I was wondering if there's any charity or organisation that would be able to help with transport? She'd need to lie down for most of the journey and be carried up the four steps to the caravan.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the Red Cross can sometimes help in such situations. It would mean so much to her.

skater_kat

is there a local hopsice organisation near you? could be worth a try there.

i had a similar siutation in my family. what we ended up doing was getting a large estate car type vehicle and putting a thin matress down in the back. we transfered her to the car on a stretcher and then she could lie down all the way, buffered with pillows etc. not ideal but it was that or nothing.

i am just thinking as there is so little time involved here, you might consider something similar, as getting help may be a process with forms etc.

zaksmum

Thanks skater kat. She's actually in a hospice already and they're not able to help.

I don't think she could get into an estate car, and she's got one of those morphine pumps which would need to be taken with her as well.

It would need to be at least the size of a transit van, if not ambulance.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

Savvy_Sue

There certainly are private ambulance services, but I'm not sure how you'd get in touch with them, and it would not be cheap. However it may be one of those 'hang the expense' moments.

Richie-from-the-Boro

The sad fact of the matter is anyone undertaking to help should understand the risk, a professional and qualified private ambulance service should be used. Has the individual completed a ' special rules ' form ? Claiming under special rules is instant and no medical is required, the income from fast track high rate Attendance Allowance / and / or / or Disability Living Allowance will be more than enough to have this journey carried out to a professional standard.

Under the terms of special rules the claim can be made by another person on behalf of the terminally ill. You can ask any doctor / healthcare professional for a form called a DS 1500 and fill in the special rules section of the DLA claim form.

SailorSam

How old is she, would Age Concern help.
Could her husband hire a Motorhome for a few days.

tanith

Try here but they do charge... http://www.patient-transport.co.uk/?gclid=CI-ftYPHhqkCFQUOfAodohDCog

It might come under an ad-hoc journey or a humanitarian journey but my guess is it will cost a few hundred pounds depending on distance of course.. the red cross do this sort of thing but also charge although they seem to have lots of areas that they don't cover http://www.redcross.org.uk/What-we-do/Health-and-social-care/Social-support-in-the-UK/Transport-service

sheeps68

St John Ambulance do transport on occasions. Look up your local division and give them a call/

Blackpool_Saver

I so hope this can be arranged

paddedjohn

The problem a lot of people perceive is all the health and safety crap and forms that need filling in before you have to pay hundreds of quid to go down the road.
OP, where about are you? if you are near me ive got a van and could put a mattress in the back, not ideal but id be only too happy to help.

zaksmum

Thanks for the replies. My friend is 65 and would really need specialist care en route to her caravan, she's in a bad way now as you can imagine.

I will call St John Ambulance - thanks for that suggestion sheeps68. SailorSam, I'll suggest a Motorhome too, good idea, staff at the hospice have said they may be able to send a nurse with her.

Padded John, thank you for your very kind offer. I'm on Merseyside, not sure my friend would be able to manage in a van but I will speak to her.

I will see her later today.

Thanks SavvySue, Richie and tanith.