Please can anyone help?

[veekay]

Can anyone out there tell me if there is some sort of hospital transport scheme. I have just heard of an elderly person being told that they must find their own way to Aberdeen hospital. the person concerned has just had major surgery and cannot travel by bus or train I thought if there were a scheme to help them I could get in touch and find out details.

[chaz]

Hi, my mother used to get transport to and from inverness when she was very ill, im sure she got it through her gp.There definatly used to be transport avaliable but that was nearly 4 years ago.Maybe worth trying gp or specialist.

[Venture]

Can anyone out there tell me if there is some sort of hospital transport scheme. I have just heard of an elderly person being told that they must find their own way to Aberdeen hospital. the person concerned has just had major surgery and cannot travel by bus or train I thought if there were a scheme to help them I could get in touch and find out details.

If you are being admitted to hospital and are not fit to travel by bus or train you should be able to fly with assistance from the Health Board who usually pay the flights. Unless this has changed recently your best bet is to get in touch with either the Health Board or Caithness General who will point you in the right direction if you explain your situation. Sometimes its the hospital you are going to who deal with the travel arrangements by way of refund.

[silverfox57]

Can anyone out there tell me if there is some sort of hospital transport scheme. I have just heard of an elderly person being told that they must find their own way to Aberdeen hospital. the person concerned has just had major surgery and cannot travel by bus or train I thought if there were a scheme to help them I at could get in touch and find out details.
veekay there was a quote in groat few mths back about man who had heart operation at edinburgh royal infirmary and was elderly man who lived on his own,was discharged to find his own way home to caithness,was going to be refered to his m p, hospital do great work ,but sometimes do not understand time and distance this far north, as I now only to well,hope you get all the help ,

[dirdyweeker]

My GP is arranging transport for a family member who has to go to Edinburgh. Ask your practice to look into it.

[Whitewater]

Contact the medical centre or your GP and they should be able to arrange something for you, a carer is also allowed to travel along with the patient.

[ashaw1]

Can anyone out there tell me if there is some sort of hospital transport scheme. I have just heard of an elderly person being told that they must find their own way to Aberdeen hospital. the person concerned has just had major surgery and cannot travel by bus or train I thought if there were a scheme to help them I could get in touch and find out details.
There is usually a leaflet that comes in the envelope with the letter advising of the hospital appointment. It gives you a number to call, they ask you a few questions and usually advise you of a rough pick up time dependent on who else they need to pick up. My husband did this a couple of months ago.

[Fran]

Phone Patients Transport Service at the Scottish ambulance Services hq at Raigmore, Inverness and they will arrange either a car or the patients transport ambulance to take you. It used to be that you asked your gp or the hospital and they would have arrange d it for you, but now you must phone it yourself and make arrangements. There is always a long waiting time on the phone and give as much advanced warning as you can. The ambulance transport goes to Inverness daily. you could then be transferred to aberdeen. If your condition warrants it you could be flown to Aberdeen from wick but your gp or the hospital would have to arrange this as it does not go through the ambulance service.

[veekay]

My thanks to all of you for your help. I will pass this information on to the person in question and hopefully they will get the transport they need.