Mum died in February last year

Stev23

And my social worker said that there’s no reason for a support worker or carer.

i have heart failure 
kindney failure 
I am house bound so I need someone to drive me to appointments mostly at the hospital.
I have autism 

my social worker said that as it’s not for mental health family can take me, my dad is over 70, and my sister works 

can I do anything To get support? I’m on benefits.

marcia_

 Stev23 said:

And my social worker said that there’s no reason for a support worker or carer.

i have heart failure 
kindney failure 
I am house bound so I need someone to drive me to appointments mostly at the hospital.
I have autism 

my social worker said that as it’s not for mental health family can take me, my dad is over 70, and my sister works 

can I do anything To get support? I’m on benefits.

 Does your support worker work for the council? 

 Have you had a social worker from the council carry out an assessment? 

 Read this https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/getting-a-social-care-assessment?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADrhH8FNHFyZRVJ_-riXIxCnTwKhP&gclid=Cj0KCQiA4rK8BhD7ARIsAFe5LXLjzDpla_59JqSLt4SVAh90l_io9QcPYDcmizHdVv87_8WEPxi5VMUaAs1zEALw_wcB

elsien

Generally speaking support for hospital appointment if it’s just to drive you is your own responsibility. You can get a bus or a taxi - that is what your PIP is for; or if you qualify, you can look into Hospital transport. Rules vary between areas so you would need to check and see what is available to you.

https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/advice-and-information/2024-11-18/do-you-need-help-travelling-nhs-services#:~:text=Ask%20your%20GP%20or%20the,find%20it%20difficult%20to%20walk

The other options are community transport or volunteer drivers. Again, that varies between areas. 

It’s a health need so wouldn’t fall under Care Act processes. 

Alderbank

Stev23 said:

And my social worker said that there’s no reason for a support worker or carer.

i have heart failure 
kindney failure 
I am house bound so I need someone to drive me to appointments mostly at the hospital.
I have autism 

my social worker said that as it’s not for mental health family can take me, my dad is over 70, and my sister works 

can I do anything To get support? I’m on benefits.

It's a question of what support you need, not just the name of your condition.

With each of your conditions there is a wide spectrum of how you individually are affected, from scarcely noticeable to being a hospital inpatient.

My brother-in-law has heart failure and kidney failure but he's quite able to take himself on the bus to the various different hospitals for scans and tests etc.(although he does moan about it).

I'm over 70 (I'm 75) and drive my daughter to GP or doctor when she has appointments. One advantage of being retired is that you can easily take family members to daytime appointments.

Social services nowadays are very stretched for resources. But look around on community noticeboards and ask around your area. Many places have volunteer groups to help people attend hospital visits etc. That is quite a nice and friendly way of doing things.

LorF

My mum became housebound with 24 hour oxygen tank requirement.  It was quite a process for family removing her from the house to any appointment.  She had lots of appointments per year.  She did try hospital transport occasionally but it was very booked up.  On one occasion she spent excessive hours waiting for hospital transport as they had to pick up other patients later in the day.  We had to have two people for most appointments,  and all family were working full time but managed to get her there.  A care agency in our area did provide a taxi that was high cost, and you had to pay hourly rates for the carers required.  

sheramber

Stev23 said:

And my social worker said that there’s no reason for a support worker or carer.

i have heart failure 
kindney failure 
I am house bound so I need someone to drive me to appointments mostly at the hospital.
I have autism 

my social worker said that as it’s not for mental health family can take me, my dad is over 70, and my sister works 

can I do anything To get support? I’m on benefits.

I drove my husband 100 miles each way ( including 40 miles on single track roads) to hospital when I was over 70. 

Muttleythefrog

Patient transport? Or are there hospital transport services at reduced cost. You may be able to get travel costs reimbursed. Sometimes you might be able to get taxi paid for if no other option but agree that in advance with hospital... to be honest... I have to go to cancer related hospital appointments about 17 miles from home... I find the bus the easiest (because the mental health related problems with other options and risks to health have being counterintuitively high with hospital transport including ambulance) and cheapest option but I presume that's not the case here! As advised the options can be very local specific as well as can be demand.

Savvy_Sue

I know some of the local GP surgeries have lists of volunteer drivers to help people get to appointments. Definitely worth asking there.