Patient Transport

I am hoping the mods allow this to be published.

This week the ambulance service has quietly brought in new criteria for patient transport. My mother, who has always had patient transport, was politely told she doesn't qualify anymore.

She uses a walking stick and can only manage 20m max with increasing breathlessness and pain in her legs. She is about to start dialysis.

She rang her consultant's secretary this morning as our local hospital is 50 minutes away by car. The secretary said this was a new nationwide ruling because they don't have enough ambulances. She had been on the phone all morning with many patients who cannot get to their appointments this week.

I can only drive in my local area (1 mile) and even then it has to be on a day I feel able to do this safely which is once every 2-3 weeks..

As patient transport can only be booked 7 days in advance, I wanted to let people who use this service be forewarned when they ring up to book.

Awful!
I feel affected members should if they can manage to, let their MPs know about this stupid waste of the NHS appointments that are missed.
The only other transport option available in some areas is voluntary organisations.

Denby