Patient Transport

[mrs_overall]

Does anyone know the criteria for eligibility? It can't be down to benefits as I have a wealthy friend in West Yorkshire who is attending a hospital in Sheffield and patient transport (a taxi) is provided.

[Sqad]

WR....exactly........if they choose to live in the "wilds" then they should accept the restrictions.

[Sqad]

dave......once the hospital has provided and paid for the service, the discharge is up to the patient to fund.

I thought that the UK was a caring society.....are you telling me that neither family or friends could provide transport.

I don't accept that.

[gness]

Ron. It is not nonsense. The nearest place for OH`s treatment was forty miles away and he hated the bloody journeys. It wasn`t choice or a day out

Like I said to Sqad, we didn`t have that money so what should he do? Cycle? Die?

And while I`m at it OH`s death was the fault of the hospital and I was offered the chance to sue. I chose not too partly because of the time and cost to the NHS and because we were not scrounging every penny type of people but we really needed that transport.

I know Sqad.....settle down.

[sunny-dave]

I reckon that everyone should expect to have to travel at their own expense to/from the nearest NHS hospital - but if (in its infinite wisdom) the NHS says I can only have my piles fixed in Auchtermuchty rather than Coventry, why should I have to pay the extra travel costs ?

[mike11111]

Don't forget that every £1 wasted on patients is a £1 less in the retired physicians' drinking fund.

[Sqad]

gness....you chose to live where you wanted and medical services were obviously a concern, but was a risk worth taking.

If you hadn't the money yourselves, how about neighbours or friends....or shall i say this........family.

[mrs_overall]

Mr O did not choose to be in hospital 80 miles from home. The hospital is the only one in the North of England that performs this particular type of specialised surgery. He will not be able to drive, and for reasons I am not prepared to discuss, I am not able to drive him there.
We are neither rich nor poor, but the cost of taxis for 6 weeks is beyond our means

[gness]

Well pardon me Sqad while I move next to LGH in case I need my plasma exchanged three times a week in the future because some p*ss artist of a surgeon couldn`t do his job properly.

[gness]

And aren`t you the lucky one who can depend on family and friends to do the journeys he had to for eleven years. 6am start and home anytime between 4 and 9.

[mrs_overall]

Sqad, I know we live in the sticks, but even if we lived in a large city like Newcastle, Mr O would still have had to go to St James, so your argument is not valid

[Sqad]

We are getting very emotional, personal and well off the subject as to should the NHS pay for patients to return home after medical or surgical treatment.

[gness]

Because you have no valid argument Sqad and luckily have never been in the position MrsO and I have.

[Sqad]

Mrs_O what argument? I am saying that wherever treatment is available, specialised or otherwise, the patient should be responsible for funding his/her transport home.

[mike11111]

If Mr O got to St James in Newcastle sharp enough he might get a game next Saturday.

[Sqad]

gness....really? quite an assumption that you have made.

My argument is only invalid because you disagree with it...............it may be invalid, but not for your reason.

[mrs_overall]

"...if they choose to live in the wilds..."

Your words Sqad

[gness]

But you are not addressing the regular hospital visits which are MrsO`s concern as they were mine. A discharge I could have coped with.

[mrs_overall]

Arrangements have been made for Mr O's discharge from hospital.
It is the 6 weeks of follow up visits we will struggle with

[gness]

Sqad. When you and Mrs Sqad have to give up jobs you love and face years of sh***y hospital treatment because of a sick surgeon and watch your savings dwindle you can come back and argue with me with a leg to stand on.

[LoftyLottie]

Sqad 'Choose to live'?

Sorry it is not an option for many, many people. Most people who live in the sticks have lived their all their life and don't have an alternative. And besides you don't move into a town near a hospital just in case you might get ill at some time.

And some people do not have family or friends that are in a position to help.

I think you may have lost touch with real life!!! ;o)

All areas have different criterias Mrs O.

Fortunately where I live (in the sticks) if there is noone to take you to a hospital then you get transport for appointments.

Our nearest hospital is 20 miles away and the one I am referred to is 30 miles away. We have no public transport and if Mr LL and myself didn't have each other we have noone we could ask to take us to regular appointments. Emergencies or a once off - like a discharge - are a different matter.

I wish Mr O well.