Private Ambulance

[Bowbridge]

My mum is terminally ill with cancer. She has never been motherly and we have never had a close mother/daughter relationship. At 4.30am today she sent a pitiful email from her hospital bed saying she felt so frightened and alone and just wanted to be close to family to have a cuddle.

The palliative care team have said she is not well enough to go home now and would need nursing home (funded by the NHS) or hospice care. She said in her email she wants to be transferred to be near me, which DH and I are more than happy about. (It is a 5 hr round journey every weekend to see her).

We have been looking into nursing homes today and private ambulance transfers. We have been quoted £925 from Sussex to Essex for a private ambulance. This sounds an awful lot. Has anyone else had to do a private ambulance transfer for a loved one?

(Mum is 74 and can still walk. She is very breathless and tired)

[endofthelinefinally]

What about a taxi suitable for a wheelchair? Or does she need to lie down?

[Knitclubchatter]

if in and taking up a hospital bed, ask the ward social worker about a transfer. if she is being transferred to a nursing home bed in my experience they are often supportive.

[HappyHammy]

Sorry to hear she is so unwell. If she is for NHS funding and/or hospice care she may well be entitled to full fast track funding, this may include transfers by ambulance. I don't know for sure but I would ask the palliative care nurse if they can look int this. Have the hospital said they will not supply an NHS ambulance?

[Fairylea]

Are you sure the hospital won’t transfer her? My mum was transferred from the hospital to a hospice 50 miles away by ambulance. Speak to the hospital again and see what they can do.