Hospital transport

[EmotionalBlackmail]

What do you do about getting elderly relative to hospital appointments when it isn't the local hospital? The dial-a-ride type stuff only seems to serve the local one?

Relative will have to go to Big Hospital 50 miles away a few times a year for appts. She lives independently and still drives locally but isn't confident driving to a big city and v stressed about parking. There are several friends who could take her but she doesn't like 'putting them out'. She could easily afford taxi to station and at other end but isn't confident about public transport and is v stressed about train strikes.

I live 3 hours away, sibling 5 hours away. I can't afford to take unpaid leave (I'm breadwinner) to take her there and because of timings/travel it would likely be 2-3 days annual leave needed for each appt. Which I can't do as I also have a young family.

Who would be the contact at the hospital for patient transport? Does this even exist?

If you don’t get anywhere with patient transport (try asking via Big City Hospital switchboard) I would seriously be looking at taxi/private hire for the whole journey.

It’s clear that you can’t do it.

That's a good point, I'd forgotten about that being a possibility, thank you! She could easily afford it but won't want to as why spend money when you think your daughter should do everything

This does at least mean she has choices though taxi all the way or a friend taking her. Which means I feel a bit better about saying no!

She can ask to be assessed for Non Emergency Patient Transport. She can ring either the hospital switchboard or the department she is attending and they should be able to tell her how to do this. If she is eligible, she should be able to book PTS to and from her appointments, even if she is travelling a long distance.

However, I am familiar with the national eligibility criteria and it doesn't sound to me from what you've said that she will qualify. It's worth phoning for an assessment in any case as they can signpost to other transport like community or volunteer arrangements which she might be able to access.

Thank you! I've now looked it up now I've seen the name for it above and she wouldn't be eligible as just not ill enough! She can't walk far but she can walk and drive herself (albeit only locally) still.

Not sure about how straightforward the public transport aspect of it. If she did it by public transport it would be 2 changes on 3 types of transport.

But I'll pass on the suggestions as at least then she has options. Even if she doesn't like them.

Does her council area have a volunteer driver service? Worth enquiring

My dad used the local volunteer car service - you pay, but a lot cheaper than a taxi and they were nice and chatty

You could phone / email around for quotes for a pre booked taxi

If she drives, she could do a test drive to see how it goes ?

I've passed on the patient transport contacts and suggested taxis to her.

She's past the point when she'd be prepared to drive it herself even with a test drive. It's 50 miles away involving motorways and busy big city traffic. She wouldn't be able to cope with that (have tried to show her how to use sat nav but it didn't work!). She only drives locally now. She also gets tired very easily and I don't think would cope with driving 100 miles as well as a hospital appointment.

I drive for a local volunteer group, her GP practice may know about a local service. We can claim mileage and are all DBS checked. Our insurance & MOTs are also checked to ensure our clients are not at risk.

Clients make a voluntary contribution to help cover costs, this varies on the client, we don’t have a fixed scale.

Royal Voluntary Service is one such organisation.

I would look into local transport services. If you google elderly + location, you should be able to find something as this is a pretty common problem.

Patient transport here is only for folk who have medical needs. She seems to have lots of options, friends, family, taxi, public transport.

It's means tested here so I doubt she would be eligible. Prebooked taxi is the most straightforward if finances allow - my friend does these sorts of runs, he's semi retired himself but does more gentle jobs (no Saturday nights or stag airport runs!)

Thank you all. Will pass on the voluntary service one next time I speak to her too!

It's true she does have lots of options. It's just convincing her of that! What she wants is a daughter without children or a job to be at her beck and call all the time. But that's not going to happen so it'll have to be one of the other options!

Brilliant username change fail too