To think this article is taking the piss?

[greengreenjacket]

just read this article on BBC News. The headline surely implies that this man was actively having a heart attack, yet when you read the article it clearly says it was for general tests etc.

this just feels like the latest in the NHS bashing posts made by lots of media outlets!

If you can safely get yourself to hospital for a routine appointment, why shouldn’t you?! Surely hospital transport should be for those who cannot get themselves there for whatever reason.

To me this is one of those things that just further adds to pressure when the NHS is already struggling. Can you imagine the cost of everyone got free buses to all their medical appointments? Never mind the time!!

AIBU to think think this article is deliberately inflammatory and is suggesting something quite unreasonable?

Heart attack patient, 83, had to drive four hours for hospital appointment https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr89zkvdlqpgo

I thought the same when I read it earlier. They lead you to think he was actually having a heart attack at the time. He is still able to drive OR could've arranged transport for himself.

I used to work for Hywel Dda and this is not a new thing sadly... people treating ambulance services like taxi services.

"I can't understand why pensioners have to run about in their own car," he said.

Really mate?!

Twpsyn...

Exactly! I’m sure if he really didn’t want to drive then he could have arranged his own lift!

That was the bit that got me too, fine for younger people to do it with the exact same (or even worse) conditions to make the drive, but won’t someone think of the pensioners?! 🤣

Ironically Withybush is my parents' local hospital - my dad read this article this morning (he's 81 in December) and he said: "Does he want a bloody limousine too?!"

Ridiculous.

Hahaha, why do I get the impression that even then he wouldn’t be happy 🤣

EDITED to say that the post I was quoting was deleted for some reason

Indeed!!!

Oh the champagne is too bubbly - woe is me!

I'm just quoting you here as I saw that creepy message too and now it's magically disappeared? Normal users don't get to completely delete their comments, that was gross and frankly someone must have some behind the scenes access to be able to completely delete their comment with no trace.

Im glad someone else saw it and I wasn’t going insane!! What a weird thing and yes how odd that it was just deleted with no trace!

Yep it’s a joke! He can drive so he should!

I've got your back! I saw it.

Would love an answer from the powers that be...

I bet he'd complain if someone said 'That's fine mate if you're too old to drive, we'll arrange transport and let the DVLA know to cancel your licence'

Mostly I object to the title and it being a news story.

The headline is ridiculous, and actually distracts from what is a valid point about rural services. His point that he needs to travel 70 miles each way to access to medical services is valid - it's 2 hours in a car or 4 hours on public transport each way. Borth is within 30 min of the hospital in Aberystwyth. The article doesn't say why the services don't exist there - I think there is a cardiology department there.

I can understand his frustration - it's really difficult to get regular treatment when you have to travel significant distance to access the service.

Bronglais definitely has cardio services.

see now that I would have found a reasonable complaint! But where he has to travel anyway, I fail to see why driving yourself is unreasonable