Hospital Transport

Waterlily24

Thank you tanith, I thought that might be the case, will get him to check when he phones on Monday.

Savvy_Sue

Waterlily24 wrote: »

Thank you tanith, I thought that might be the case, will get him to check when he phones on Monday.

You might also need to establish that he NEEDS to be accompanied throughout the journey, otherwise the suggestion might be that you make your own way there and back ...

Could also be worth talking to the eye dept / surgeon's secretary to see if there is a way of expediting transport home. Dad sometimes used to sit around waiting for the transport, which was exhausting for him especially as he was always one of the furthest ones out so the last to be dropped off after a Cook's Tour of the countryside.

lilac lady also suggested volunteer drivers - do have a google and see if there are any volunteer car schemes in your area. If there are, even if they don't usually go this far they might be prepared to make exceptions. They still charge, but it's cheaper than a taxi.

Also I'm wondering, whether or not you / your DH like asking for help, have you considered applying for Attendance Allowance? It's one of the ones which doesn't seem to be too difficult to get, and it's great for putting towards taxis etc.

Waterlily24

Hi Savvy_Sue

Thanks for the reply, if I'm not allowed to go with him, it would be pointless me going by public transport as I said before we live in a rural area with a poor bus service, I think it would be at least three buses (i'm finding it hard to check which buses I would need to get lol). The first wouldn't leave here till gone 8.00am and just under a half an hour journey to our nearest town. (No railway station). Then onto King's Lynn, then onto the hospital. His appointment is at 9.45 so I don't think I would make it by then. The journey back would be even worse as there are only two buses back one at 16.40 and one at 17.40. I wouldn't want him to be on his own for all that time because he will need looking after as he's got to lay face down for 7 - 10 days. This is why I can't understand why an ambulance isn't provided. Surely a long journey like that would be detrimental to the operation.

We've never looked into attendance allowance, I'll have to see if I can find anything about it lol. I'm not very good at looking for things on the computer, even having trouble with bus timetables.

Savvy_Sue

Waterlily24 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply, if I'm not allowed to go with him, it would be pointless me going by public transport as I said before we live in a rural area with a poor bus service,

that's what I thought, but you may still need to 'make the case' for him needing you with him.

Attendance Allowance.

And don't worry about problems finding bus timetables, I think our local bus company makes things deliberately difficult ...

tanith

Waterlily its just a thought but it might be good if when you phone them on Monday ask to speak to the Transport Office itself and make sure they know about his condition after the operation and that he needs to lie face down, although even on a stretcher thats going to be quite difficult and uncomfortable

babymoo

Get in touch with your local volunteer centre, they should be able to help you with transport.

https://www.do-it.org.uk - go to this link and search for your nearest one. I volunteer at my local centre and have a lot to do with the transport department, they help with people over 60 or those who are too poorly to use public transport, they do however have a small mileage charge but this may vary from centre to centre.

shegar

Just a thought , our GP as organised a service called hospitalrides.com.........and thats where people go online and see if someone else is going to the hospital on same day as them and people can travel together to reduce the transport costs, I dont know if your GP does the same thing or similar...........I notice your in Norflok area, we are Suffolk, its worth asking at the surgery, hope it all goes well for him...:)

Waterlily24

Well, we're really upset now as I can't go with him.

I'm so angry about what some people get and some don't.

Hubby has worked since he left school, had hardly any sick time off (I can only remember once before we were married). He worked a couple of years after he should have retired and this is what you get!!!!!!!!!!! Never claimed anything apart from now we get help with the rates. My goodness, I'm so angry I can't even get what I want to say right!

Hi shegar we are in Cambridgeshire near the Lincolnshire borders.

sangiar

Waterlily24 wrote: »

Well, we're really upset now as I can't go with him.

I'm so angry about what some people get and some don't.

Hubby has worked since he left school, had hardly any sick time off (I can only remember once before we were married). He worked a couple of years after he should have retired and this is what you get!!!!!!!!!!! Never claimed anything apart from now we get help with the rates. My goodness, I'm so angry I can't even get what I want to say right!

Hi shegar we are in Cambridgeshire near the Lincolnshire borders.

Look at it another way, if you were a patient that needed transport but was told - sorry can't pick you up we're full already. Why?, oh it's because for every patient that comes with us, Aunt Maud, Uncle Johnny and not forgetting cousin Tom want to come along as well!

Patient Transport is exactly that - for patients! That is unless the patient's condition is such that an escort is medically needed.

When I have been taken into A&E, my wife sometimes comes with me if allowed, otherwise she drives behind following the ambulance.

As for not getting something that others get - welcome to the real world of disability and sickness benefits!!

Torry_Quine

sangiar wrote: »

Look at it another way, if you were a patient that needed transport but was told - sorry can't pick you up we're full already. Why?, oh it's because for every patient that comes with us, Aunt Maud, Uncle Johnny and not forgetting cousin Tom want to come along as well!

Patient Transport is exactly that - for patients! That is unless the patient's condition is such that an escort is medically needed.

When I have been taken into A&E, my wife sometimes comes with me if allowed, otherwise she drives behind following the ambulance.

That's it exactly. If each patient has one person accompanying them it means that only half the patients who could have been transported will be. Hard if you are the relative but unless medically needed there just isn't capacity.

Hope that the op goes well for the OP's husband.