Transport home from hospital - private surgery

[HelenRose1111]

A relative is due hip replacement surgery this weekend and has been given the leaflets about what to expect after surgery.

Part of this is about travel home after the surgery - relative is very tall and long from hip to knee and we now realise, cannot get into any of our family vehicles without bringing their operated-on leg, above the level of the hip - which is categorically banned as this can dislocate the new hip.

As he is a private patient, how can we access transport home from the hospital?
He will need either a black cab type vehicle or one of those van type vehicles with sliding doors as he can't fold the leg up to get into the seat. Obviously we can pay if we need to, but I can't find any taxis which have suitable vehicles....

Really worried about it, the hospital is an orthopaedic specialist one and nearly 40 miles away from home!

I rang PALs and they can't help, nor can the private patient admissions clerk.

Anyone? Thank you in advance.

There are private ambulances.

A family member used one after being denied an NHS ambulance bit like you say having no sensible alternative, not sure what they paid.

Do you have a local mobility shop? If you search your area + volunteer organisations you should be able to find some contact numbers/ websites. Or failing that CAB should be able to point you in the direction of any local volunteer schemes. They may hold telephone numbers for community volunteer drivers.

You can get private taxis as someone has already said, but check, some are not used for live people.

It might be easier and possibly cheaper to rent a vehicle.

A camper van might be an idea.

My dad was able to have two private ambulance trips a year on his insurance policy....give them a call see if that's an option?

Black cab?

Wheelchair accessible taxi might work, you may be able to hire a wheel chair locally via Red Cross.

Thank you all!.
I finally got through to the (Private contract) NHS Ambulance transport company who confirmed they can't help private patients.
But, they directed me to Driving Miss Daisy which is a taxi firm specialising in wheelchair transport, and it looks like they can help.
They're a national company so anyone else in this position, worth knowing.

Hi, I recently had a hip replacement at a private hospital and was worried about getting home when discharged. The surgeon and physio both said that it was no longer critical to avoid bending the operated hip by more than 90 degrees, as prostheses and surgical techniques have improved such a lot, so your relative could check with their surgical team.
I was able to travel home in a normal family car with quite a low seat, although my journey was not 40 miles.
Your relative will possibly have to visit their GP practice for dressing changes after a couple of weeks, and if they do need to use a family car, then I would advise the following: use the front passenger seat as front doors open wider than rear car doors; enter the car from the road not the pavement as car seat will be higher; turn and move into the car backwards, sitting down before bringing either leg into the car, and slide across as far as possible, then bring both legs in together if possible.
I wish your relative a successful outcome and hope all goes well.