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Original poster

Help needed from London MNetters (urgent)

32 replies

LongHotSummerJustPassed · 17/03/2021 20:45

My DD is going into hospital (London Bridge) for a procedure tomorrow. She has to be as flat as possible for 24 hours afterwards and mustn't bend. A friend was going to drive her home fully reclined in the front seat of a car, but isn't able to help now unfortunately.

Can any of you think of any transport she could book that would get her home? She can't sit in the front of a black cab or Uber and the back seats are too vertical. The flatter she is, the better the chance of the procedure working, and she's desperate to be well. TIA.

OP posts:
Whatelsecouldibecalled · 17/03/2021 20:46

Can hospital patient transport help?

Toddlerteaplease · 17/03/2021 20:47

She may be able to get hospital transport on medical grounds, as she needs to lie flat. It's the only reason you get it in my hospital.

Original poster
LongHotSummerJustPassed · 17/03/2021 20:49

I'm not sure if there's hospital transport (its being done privately through work health insurance). Do you think they might have it?

OP posts:
ghislaine · 17/03/2021 20:49

Private ambulance?

MaizeBlouse · 17/03/2021 20:49

How old is she? Could she not lie back on the back of a black cab? Sounds like she needs patient transport like PP said

Vintagevixen · 17/03/2021 20:51

Hi London Bridge hospital is a private hospital and should be able to book a private ambulance. I used to work there and they use them all the time for transfers etc.

Get her to speak directly to them.

RuggeryBuggery · 17/03/2021 20:52

Team Medic are a private ambulance transport provider that can normally help at short notice. Not cheap though and it doesn’t sound right you should have to sort it if it’s a medical need? Surely ask the consultant

Original poster
LongHotSummerJustPassed · 17/03/2021 20:53

Thanks everyone. She's an adult. I did suggest lying in the back of a cab. Not sure if she'd be allowed, and also (its been years since I've been in a black cab) - would she have to bend much to get in the back?

OP posts:
noraclavicle · 17/03/2021 20:53

I’d start by speaking to the hospital itself for advice, OP. If they don’t offer it, they can at least point you in the right direction.

LunaHeather · 17/03/2021 20:54

Def check hospital transport first. If they don't have it, they can give you a number for a firm they like to do the journey home.

What car does your friend have, the one who was going to drive her home?

That might be a car that can be provided by another firm eg one suggested by hospital, maybe try Green Tomatoes or Fairway and Kenwood.

Do you know your local mini cab firm, they can be very helpful with this type of thing.

Queenie6655 · 17/03/2021 20:55

Wishing her all the best
Hope she has a good recovery xx

LunaHeather · 17/03/2021 20:55

@LongHotSummerJustPassed

Thanks everyone. She's an adult. I did suggest lying in the back of a cab. Not sure if she'd be allowed, and also (its been years since I've been in a black cab) - would she have to bend much to get in the back?
I'm fairly sure a black cab can't allow that.
CraftyYankee · 17/03/2021 20:57

Could she get the largest Uber or Addison Lee car and recline the front seat all the way back?

Original poster
LongHotSummerJustPassed · 17/03/2021 20:58

She's only just found out the friend isn't able to help and the procedure is in the morning, so hasn't had chance to speak to her consultant. He isn't doing the procedure so I don't think he'll be able to sort it, bit it sounds like it's worth her speaking to London Bridge to ask them to help arrange something. Thanks for that advice it's really helpful Flowers

OP posts:
QOD · 17/03/2021 21:01

What is it?

LunaHeather · 17/03/2021 21:02

OP if there's a receptionist on duty now, it's possibly quiet and they will advise right away. May be less stressful than waiting till morning.

Original poster
LongHotSummerJustPassed · 17/03/2021 21:06

@Queenie6655

Wishing her all the best Hope she has a good recovery xx
Thank you that's really kind.

Re reclining in the front of a cab, she doesn't think cab firms would let you sit in the front, and almost certainly not horizontal with the seat fully reclined. I'll send her a link to this thread, and suggest she calls the hospital - Vintagevixen presumably the staff dealing with transport wont be in until the morning, so she will probably need to wait until then to call?

OP posts:
Original poster
LongHotSummerJustPassed · 17/03/2021 21:06

@LunaHeather

OP if there's a receptionist on duty now, it's possibly quiet and they will advise right away. May be less stressful than waiting till morning.
Ah great, will tell her!
OP posts:
steelserenade · 17/03/2021 21:08

Depends what it is and how long the journey is.

Presumably in addition to being discharged within the window, she's also not catheterised so the "as flat as possible for 24 hours" is in the expectation of a certain degree of mobilising to get home and go to the bathroom at least.

Embracelife · 17/03/2021 21:08

Surely she should stay in the hospital for 24 hours? Stay lying flat on hospital bed.

idontlikealdi · 17/03/2021 21:12

If she has to stay absolutely flat they'll keep her in for 24 hours, if they're prepared to euchre her it's more likely to be as flat as you can for 24 hours otherwise how would she leave the hospital, get into her house, go to to the toilet etc?

littlewhitestar · 17/03/2021 21:18

Private ambulance services are open 24 hours a day usually so she could call this evening. It might be covered by her medical insurance (she could call them too).

I think St John's Ambulance also offer specialist patient transport for this type of situation but it may be too late to organise that.

steelserenade · 17/03/2021 21:19

I've had a procedure where I was sent home with a similar instruction. In that case due to the risk of internal bleeding.

But the fact that they consider discharge safe at that point means they also consider it safe to mobilise in order to get home and manage at home etc.

On the subject of safety, I don't think seatbelts are actually effective if you've fully reclined the seat. They're not intended to be driven in that position, so it's probably good that plan isn't going ahead because it was rather dangerous.

Vintagevixen · 17/03/2021 21:21

You might be able to arrange now - they don't have a seperate transport department as such, it's the reception.

Bed manager is on duty 24/7 and might be able to arrange, or at least speak to the nurses on the floor she will be admitted to about it.

Remember it's a private hospital and they will be very customer service orientated.

justchecking1 · 17/03/2021 21:26

Private ambulance?

Where I live private ambulances are for dead bodies to transport them to the undertakers. Double check if you choose to book one!