Early Hospital Transport or Hotel room???

nellb

I didnt know where to put this, im really desperate.

Ive got an appointment at Exeter Hospital really early Monday morning. The trains dont run that early ( I live miles away) and they cant change the appointment. In fact, they dont do afternoon appointments.

Ive considered
Taxi = £85
hotel room Travel lodge = £44.

I cant afford that. I mean its not like im going to be eating breakfast!

Has anyone else been in this situation?
And does anyone have any suggestions.

Thanks all

Dogger69

Are you on means tested benefits, or do you receive help with health costs? If so, you may receive some assistance with your travel costs.

sheilavw

Do they not provide transport. We have to take my brother 40 miles to Wythenshawe but we can ring in advance and get these hospital transport drivers? We have never used them but know of them. I think your GP will know?

pogofish

Does the Hospital have a hotel/hostel? Many do have some kind of basic accommodation for just this kind of situation/families from far-flung places etc. The one here is pretty well priced and very competitive with budget hotels/B&Bs in the area.

saving_pennies

When I was in a similar situation I contacted the hospital and spoke to someone from the PALS (Patient Advise and Liaison Service). They told me about a scheme where they could either provide free hospital transport or apply for a bursary to cover the cost of a hotel for the night before my appointment.

I hope your appointment goes well.

bigboybrother

What has this country descended into. Hotel for the night paid for by the state??

You ought to be grateful that there is a NHS hospital to go to.

I just don't understand where you are living. If I can get to a Liverpool hospital for a 9.30am appointment via London by train from the South coast, you should be able to get to Exeter.

What times do the trains start running where you are - I thought that it was about 5.00am?

Lifeforms

Not everyone lives on main lines which have regular and early services. You also have to include things like buses too. In the last place I lived there were early trains from a town station several miles away, but no buses to get me there, and also no taxis as the only village one was used for schools. More money for them!

Some people are seen at hospitals some distance from where they live, and also some people don't drive, or have people that can give lifts early in morning.

When I've had this, I've gone for a cheap travelodge overnight. My parents regularly go see their specialist over 150 miles away by train, and are lucky to get a train in the morning, but when my dad was chronically ill they had to stay overnight.

This is the NHS where services has been crunched so much that local hospitals don't offer what is needed, and more and more super centres are being used.

PDC

bigboybrother wrote: »

What has this country descended into. Hotel for the night paid for by the state??

You ought to be grateful that there is a NHS hospital to go to.

I just don't understand where you are living. If I can get to a Liverpool hospital for a 9.30am appointment via London by train from the South coast, you should be able to get to Exeter.

What times do the trains start running where you are - I thought that it was about 5.00am?

I had to get a train from London to Skegness, cost around £20 and took a little two hours. Friend of mine I was meeting there was starting out in the Midlands about 100 miles closer and it was going to take him 6 hours and cost around £120. Train services and subsidies are so much better in the larger cities and seem to have dropped off completely outside them.


Hope you get it sorted out OP. Seems to be some good advice above.