To ask for space and ventilation on crowded trains.

[Booblessbeauty]

I am going backward and forward to hospital having chemotherapy, and the medical advice is to sit away from other passengers and keep the windows open. Some trains are standing room only, and I have to ask for space to be left near me when there are no other seats. Most people are kind and understanding, but I have had chemotherapy today, and both going in and coming out, I have had people ignore my requests.

On my way in, on a crowded rush hour train, a man insisted on moving my bag and sitting on the seat next to me, even though I had paid an extra ticket for my bag, and explained to him about the chemo.

On the way back, another man insisted on closing all the windows in the carriage, because he "felt cold" even though an infection could kill me

It is quite obvious I am undergoing chemotherapy, as I am bald, wearing a mask, and have a sunflower lanyard around my neck with "Chemotherapy patient needing social distancing and ventilation" written on it quite clearly. - The hospital gives this to patients who have to travel to chemotherapy by public transport.

Most people are lovely, but today was quite upsetting. The worst thing that has ever happened to me on these trips was a well dressed young woman in a business suit physically kicking me out of the way because I couldn't move fast enough for her, then acting as if she was the one hard done by, being forced to touch me with her precious shoe.

Thank you to all those people who do listen and understand , and give me space though. Which is most people

If you were deliberately kicked please tell the police- they can view the cctv footage

OP have you spoken with the cashier's office at the hospital about reimbursement for your travel? They usually have a page on the hospital website which will list the benefits that are eligible to have their travel refunded or partially refunded. You have to keep all receipts. This might help you with some of the financial burden.

Are the hospital aware of just how difficult travel is for you i.e. are they making any attempt to accommodate different times (sorry I don't know anything about chemo so maybe it has to start at 9am)?

When they must send you home with so much info on how to look after yourself to maximise your chance of a positive outcome, it seems bizarre that there is literally NOTHING to be done about the transport situation which is risking your health.

Don't you have any friends or colleagues?

O yes, the hospital staff are well aware of the problems facing many patients. They do try and vary our times, so no one always gets the rush hour appointments, and they just tell us to make sure we are as socially distanced as possible, and to keep the windows open.

Some of my appointments start later, and there is no real problem then. Today was just particularly bad. I feel like I am in a no win situation, when I just cant follow the medical instructions. Most of the time people are nice and understanding about it, and do give me space. Like I said, today was just particularly horrible.

I am not aware of this. I will look into this. Thank you

I started this for a bit of a moan, but have had several constructive ideas I hadn't thought of, so thank you for that.

Is there absolutely no volunteer services/ help the vulnerable/ citizens advice near you? Patient transport to hospital is the type of help many of them provide for free/ very small charge. You would definitely qualify at our local volunteer action service. Whilst many of the drivers are available mon-fri 9-5, I do know that our local action service has a deal with a local taxi firm and with notice can arrange transport via local taxi firm for patients outside these times. I say citizens advice because they often know the contact info for voluntary patient transport schemes. So should your local council. Work an ask on Facebook too as many people are good at signposting local services like the driving schemes.

You may have been instructed to social distance and have windows open but this is totally unrealistic on public transport. Somebody else might have been instructed to make sure they don’t stand too long for a medical reason. Somebody else might have an ear infection and need the window closed to avoid the pain of cold air blasting through at train speed.

The “instructions” you have been given are unrealistic and unenforceable on public transport.
As for putting your bag on a seat - of course someone else who might have a need just as great as yours and may wish to have that seat.

Public transport is a shared space and I think you are being very black and white about the instructions you’ve been given. You can try to follow those instructions but other people, strangers on a packed train with their own set of problems and needs can’t be expected to follow them.

If public transport is that risky for you then you and your healthcare team need to explore other options.

I wish you well with your treatment and recovery but you’ll drive yourself mad trying to enforce the advice you’ve been given in any shared space tbh.

Btw if you put your area in you never know some kind soul of mn might be able to help you out. I certainly will if you are near my area x

That's awful, getting kicked :-( we've been travelling first class since Covid for more space but recently it's FC has been stopped here. Not sure if it's everywhere but if not I would consider that to help protect yourself. And get decent FFP2 face masks.

I hope one of the ideas helps you. If only we had trains with one carriage with compartments, in which I am sure your reasonable requests would be respected.

Unfortunately even paying for a ticket doesn’t guarantee you a space! If people see a seat with a bag on it they probably expect you to move it to allow them not to sit on the floor! Also, even opening a window won’t prevent germs! I think you just need to accept the risks as public transport is filthy and people don’t care!!

I’m sorry OP, it is crap.

I’m afraid I’m also of the school of thought that sadly it isn’t realistic to expect everyone you come across to comply with your requests like leaving a seat clear on a crowded train for 1.5 hours. And that is all they can be - requests. If you make these requests (and I totally get why you d given the medical advice to do so) then I’m afraid you’re going to have to reconcile yourself to the fact that sometimes people won’t be willing to comply and in some instances people might not be particularly nice about it.

So I would focus on what you can influence in order to minimise the risks:

• looking at whether you can travel first class or get a free upgrade on medical grounds
• the best mask you can get - FFP3 are significantly better than FFP2 - and making sure it fits properly.

Sounds like a tough situation OP and my heart goes out to you. However you cant expect people to respect your needs on public transport- as a pp said; they could have been insticted not to stand for too lomg, avoid windy places etc etc.

When you buy a train ticket, unless you reserve a seat when booking you are paying to use the train, not necessarily for a seat. I used to commute daily and would be furious if someone put their bag on a busy commuter train!

Unfortunately other passengers may have good reason to need a seat, I don't think you can expect people to give you space if they need to sit. As difficult as it is I think the answer is a better mask

My dp designed masks, even suitable for nuclear fallout! You can buy suitable for a train for a lot less than the extra ticket, there's reusable ones too with interchangeable filters (look for the ones with activated carbon, he's probably made them)

I had to travel by train with a broken
Leg. I was wearing a boot. I had a lot of trouble getting a seat. The public can be awful. Sorry this happened to you OP.

Thank you all, I have upgraded my masks, and feel a bit more confident now. I have also discovered that although the very early trains are jam packed, there is a bit of a lull around 6.15 ish, so am using those trains now. It does mean sitting on the pavement outside the chemo suite for an hour, but it is better than a full train

Good to hear OP. Wishing you all the best for the remainder of your treatment.

Avoid rush hours, can a relative not drive u or you get a taxi?

I feel for your situation - I really do. But public transport is always going to be manic/busy/crowded. And the "I have a ticket for my bag" is meaningless. Nowadays a ticket doesn't even guarantee a seat. And even if you have 2 reserved seats, people will ignore "but that's my bags seat" as the fairly meaningless bollocks it sounds.

I don't think I see anywhere how far away you are from the hospital, but is national express coach an alternative? I use them fairly often when I'm not in a hurry and they are often pretty empty. I went down to London in one back in February, and there was a whole coach for just 6 of us.

You're on a train that has windows that open?

Buses can be less crowded. Just a thought.

Lots of trains have windows that open. I commute and mine do.

On my commuter trains, they open up first class to everyone if it becomes standing room only, so this may not work.

OP is there a bus or coach you could get that would be less difficult?

My friend just sent me this list for you. Her husband has cancer treatment for 18 months. He was able to avoid using public transport using a combination of these services plus lifts from friends.

A Blue Badge is assigned yo the individual so you can use to park is disability spaces and yellow lines in any vehicle.

Public transport is just that. Therefore, if you can find alternatives a there seems to be options, I would recommend this. I’m a veteran of London commuting.

I must say, I’ve found people to be mostly very accommodating. Those who aren’t probably aren’t at any time or they are living with their own challenges.

Seats are seats and after a stressful day at work or night at home, a seat can be a sanctuary for someone for more reasons than you might realise. I don’t physically look like I need a seat. Sometimes I really do. Hidden circumstances and disabilities are very real.

I send you all good wishes.

I hope these are useful

Disability allowance - non-means tested: https://www.gov.uk/pip

If eligible for benefits https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/healthcare-travel-costs-scheme-htcs/ 

Free transport. This is London but they have national services: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/dial-a-ride/

Community transport: https://ctauk.org/

London taxi card: https://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/services

Blue Badge Scheme: https://www.gov.uk/apply-blue-badge

Transport for all: https://www.transportforall.org.uk/

I will also.