View Full Version : hospital transport.
oh i am livid, last tuesday night my eldest daughter broke her foot, and has to go back to caithness general on thursday to see the doctor and to get another x-ray then another cast, well we are struggling to get transport through as we dont live on a bus route it would mean making her walk down the street to get a bus then from the st in wick up to the hospital, now the poor bairn is still in a lot of pain with it, so i think it would be to much to walk her down also when she gets her new cast she isnt allowed on it for 24hrs, so after failing miserablly to get a life form anyone, i thought i would phone and try and get her hospital transport, only to discover that she doesnt quilify, because she would beable to get in and out of a taxi, now the bit that gets me, aye its fair enough to get a taxi but we wouldnt get anything back because we live to near the hospital(we live in thurso), and the price of a taxi is most likely around the £30 mark now, so cant really afford that. But what makes me mad is that there will be people out there who just use this service to suit themselves.
So back to the drawing board, one of my ohs mates said he would take us on the wednesday as he has to transport an elderly lady through because at the time we thought i was just an x-ray and a new cast, then we got the letter saying we had to attend the clinic on thursday, so bang goes that idea.
silverfox57
20-Oct-08, 11:10
have heard of man in hospital in Inverness,
the staff told him he would get home tomorrow
when the next day came, staff said they where very sorry,but as no transport was coming down from wick that day he would just have to wait. well he made such afuse that hospital hired taxi and took him home to his door at wick,cost of taxi £130 which hospital paid ,think you have to demand your Rights,as some get and some dont,hope it works out for you,
I have often been in the same position so I take a taxi from home to the bus stop and from the bus stop to the hospital. You get dropped right at the door. She will then get a wheelchair from the taxi to wherever she is going. Hope she gets on ok; such a nuisance trying to get around when your legs don't work.....
have heard of man in hospital in Inverness,
the staff told him he would get home tomorrow
when the next day came, staff said they where very sorry,but as no transport was coming down from wick that day he would just have to wait. well he made such afuse that hospital hired taxi and took him home to his door at wick,cost of taxi £130 which hospital paid ,think you have to demand your Rights,as some get and some dont,hope it works out for you,
what makes it worse is both myself and my oh work and pay our tax yet we cant get any assistance.
I have often been in the same position so I take a taxi from home to the bus stop and from the bus stop to the hospital. You get dropped right at the door. She will then get a wheelchair from the taxi to wherever she is going. Hope she gets on ok; such a nuisance trying to get around when your legs don't work.....
think that is what we are going to have to do to be honest, cant see any other way round it.
Murdina Bug
20-Oct-08, 11:48
What about dial-a-ride? See information on this page:
http://www.caithness.org/community/healthandwelfare/communitytransport/index.htm
Just ring our office on 01955 605588 between 9.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m.
Dial-A-Ride offers a door to door transport service for people with mobility problems.
Who Can Use It ?
Disabled and elderly throughout the county. Mothers with young children and others in rural areas with no personal transport or reasonable access to any public transport service.
Will I Get Assistance to board the vehicle ?
Yes. The driver will be there to assist you with the steps or wheelchair access.
Can I Bring An Escort ?
Yes. They will pay the same fare as you, but you must tell the office at the time of booking the journey.
Is It Just For Special Journeys ?
No! You can use it for almost any purpose. Go shopping, visit friends and relatives, social functions, medical appointments.
How Much Does It Cost ?
There is a charge of 15p-£1 per person per mile depending on the length of the journey. You can even bring friends with you who will pay the same fare as you or an escort who is charged at £1.
What about dial-a-ride? See information on this page:
http://www.caithness.org/community/healthandwelfare/communitytransport/index.htm
Just ring our office on 01955 605588 between 9.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m.
Dial-A-Ride offers a door to door transport service for people with mobility problems.
Who Can Use It ?
Disabled and elderly throughout the county. Mothers with young children and others in rural areas with no personal transport or reasonable access to any public transport service.
Will I Get Assistance to board the vehicle ?
Yes. The driver will be there to assist you with the steps or wheelchair access.
Can I Bring An Escort ?
Yes. They will pay the same fare as you, but you must tell the office at the time of booking the journey.
Is It Just For Special Journeys ?
No! You can use it for almost any purpose. Go shopping, visit friends and relatives, social functions, medical appointments.
How Much Does It Cost ?
There is a charge of 15p-£1 per person per mile depending on the length of the journey. You can even bring friends with you who will pay the same fare as you or an escort who is charged at £1.
cheers for that, i never thought of them.
Alice in Blunderland
20-Oct-08, 16:58
have heard of man in hospital in Inverness,
the staff told him he would get home tomorrow
when the next day came, staff said they where very sorry,but as no transport was coming down from wick that day he would just have to wait. well he made such afuse that hospital hired taxi and took him home to his door at wick,cost of taxi £130 which hospital paid ,think you have to demand your Rights,as some get and some dont,hope it works out for you,
I think if you way up the cost of keeping the same patient overnight in hospital compared to the cost of the taxi home the hospital could be quids in. ;)
I remember reading somewhere how much its reported to cost to keep a patient overnight in a hospital bed and it was a good bit more than £ 130.
silverfox57
20-Oct-08, 18:58
I think if you way up the cost of keeping the same patient overnight in hospital compared to the cost of the taxi home the hospital could be quids in. ;)
I remember reading somewhere how much its reported to cost to keep a patient overnight in a hospital bed and it was a good bit more than £ 130.
Alice have nothing but praise for staff in hospitals,was making the point
that some patients,do not appreciate the nhs seem to think it is the same
as benefit system,where there rights comes first,
Alice in Blunderland
20-Oct-08, 19:03
Alice have nothing but praise for staff in hospitals,was making the point
that some patients,do not appreciate the nhs seem to think it is the same
as benefit system,where there rights comes first,
I get your point and agree with you.
Both systems are too often abused. :D
pleased to say we have got a lift on thursday, one of my ohs friends is going to take us, thank goodness for friends.
silverfox57
20-Oct-08, 19:40
glad to hear that balto,a friend in need is a friend indeed
Tighsonas4
20-Oct-08, 20:08
theres a human element in everything was talking an out patient on sunday he has to go back back for more tests but had to go and pick up a package that was under stamped
it was two sachets of pikolax sent from the hospital [lol] tony
Tighsonas4
20-Oct-08, 20:10
pleased to say we have got a lift on thursday, one of my ohs friends is going to take us, thank goodness for friends.
a friend in need is a friend indeed balto hope all goes well tony
Spring Flower
20-Oct-08, 22:11
it is good your friend is able to help but a taxi journey to the bus stop would have been the easiest option. On 3 different occasions my children have been taken by ambulance to Raigmore. Luckily they have been fine but we have to find our own way home. We got expenses but they did not cover the cost of someone doing a return journey from Thurso to Inverness - however that was the last thing I was worrying about - was just glad to be getting home and everything was well. I also know of people whose babies have been airlifted to Dundee and the mother is not allowed to travel with the baby for insurance purposes and they have to find their own way to Dundee. Luckily the baby was fine but mother and baby had to find their own way home.
I dont know who you spoke to, was it Patients Transport at Inverness, but you are entitled to patients transport whether it be an ambulance car or the patients transport ambulance which comes from Thurso daily. I would suggest you phone ambulance transport in inverness, your gp, or A and E in wick where I presume the plaster was put on, and they would arrange the transport for you.
I dont know who you spoke to, was it Patients Transport at Inverness, but you are entitled to patients transport whether it be an ambulance car or the patients transport ambulance which comes from Thurso daily. I would suggest you phone ambulance transport in inverness, your gp, or A and E in wick where I presume the plaster was put on, and they would arrange the transport for you.
it was the lot in invernesss that i phoned 1st yesterday, but because she could get into a taxi then they reckoned she didnt need it, the original cast was put on in the dunbar in thurso on the tuesday night, then changed to a proper one n wick on the wednesday, i also phoned our gp but she said they could do nothing either to change the minds of the lot in inverness.
it is good your friend is able to help but a taxi journey to the bus stop would have been the easiest option. On 3 different occasions my children have been taken by ambulance to Raigmore. Luckily they have been fine but we have to find our own way home. We got expenses but they did not cover the cost of someone doing a return journey from Thurso to Inverness - however that was the last thing I was worrying about - was just glad to be getting home and everything was well. I also know of people whose babies have been airlifted to Dundee and the mother is not allowed to travel with the baby for insurance purposes and they have to find their own way to Dundee. Luckily the baby was fine but mother and baby had to find their own way home.
dont know how you think a taxi to and from the bus would be easier than having someone that would take her straight from home to hospital, but i am delighted that we have a friend happy to take her. I know what you are saying about the baby, my youngest decided to arrive early so i was flown to aberdeen to have him, but we ad to make our own way home after he was discharged, luckly another mate of my oh steped up and helped us out. if my daughter wasnt in plaster then the problem wouldnt have been so bad.
theres a human element in everything was talking an out patient on sunday he has to go back back for more tests but had to go and pick up a package that was under stamped
it was two sachets of pikolax sent from the hospital [lol] tony
glad to hear that balto,a friend in need is a friend indeed
cheers to you both, just delighted this poor chap was willing to give up an afternoon of his holidays to help us yet again, as he was the one that took her up to the dunbar last tuesday night and through to wick on the wednesday for the x-ray and so they could give her a proper plaster, this man is worth his weight in gold.
Quoted from Patient Transport service which i think applies to you for future use "Do you have a condition or DISABILITY that makes it difficult or undesirable to travel by other means.
You are unable to travel by public transport or by car due to your medical/mobility condition and require the aid of one ambulance care assistant. there is easy access at your home.
You cannot walk and require the assistance of 2 ambulan e staff to be moved to and from the ambulance.
You have a full leg plaster and cannot sit "
Hope this is of some help
Quoted from Patient Transport service which i think applies to you for future use "Do you have a condition or DISABILITY that makes it difficult or undesirable to travel by other means.
You are unable to travel by public transport or by car due to your medical/mobility condition and require the aid of one ambulance care assistant. there is easy access at your home.
You cannot walk and require the assistance of 2 ambulan e staff to be moved to and from the ambulance.
You have a full leg plaster and cannot sit "
Hope this is of some help
i have to say that by DISABILITY..it means a permament disability,not a temporary one ,such as a broken limb.
i fully understand balto s frustration and hope her daughter gets well soon.
Moderator
22-Oct-08, 18:10
Some posts have been removed from this thread due to complaints received.
i have to say that by DISABILITY..it means a permament disability,not a temporary one ,such as a broken limb.
i fully understand balto s frustration and hope her daughter gets well soon.
i honeslty thought it was a service that was there for anyone that was struggling to get to a hospital, if i had read all the points listed i would never have phoned them. but it worked out, so tomorrow we find out how long the cast will be on for, and how long she will be out of swimming for, i hope it isnt that long as she is already missing the met in buckie dont really want her to miss the thurso swim club gala aswell.
i have to say that by DISABILITY..it means a permament disability,not a temporary one ,such as a broken limb.
i fully understand balto s frustration and hope her daughter gets well soon.
No, a disability includes broken bones in legs,ankles .
No, a disability includes broken bones in legs,ankles .
sorry fran...they do not qualify for ambulance transport..only if u have any other conditions/perm.disability.i know u are a hospital driver..how many folk with just a broken limb,have u carried????
I think maybe there is confusion here between the Patient Transport Service (PTS) provided by the Scottish Ambulance Service and manned with personnel trained for the job and the transport provided by volunteers who use their own cars to collect and deliver people who are capable of accessing a car.
There are criteria for both but, as always, the interpretation of criteria is open to variations, not to demand. There are only so many vehicles available for the transport service and there is bound to be a limit to their resources when dealing with appointment times.
If there are several patients with clinical needs for an attendant, they require the PTS, otherwise the volunteers come in to play. Maybe it is time for more volunteers to take up the challenge of being a transport driver for the unfortunate people who fall into the latter category.
Maybe some one can point us in the right direction to apply.....:)
P.S. A link that will be useful for prospective volunteers http://www.60yearsofnhsscotland.co.uk/history/delivering-in-partnership/volunteer-development-scotland/
Balto, I sincerely hope you daughter will be able to heal quickly; sounds as if her swimming experience should help with her recovery both in the fact that she will be strong physically and that it will give her something to strive for.
Good luck to her and please keep us informed as to her progress.....:)
Balto, I sincerely hope you daughter will be able to heal quickly; sounds as if her swimming experience should help with her recovery both in the fact that she will be strong physically and that it will give her something to strive for.
Good luck to her and please keep us informed as to her progress.....:)
cheers for that, as soon as she is able she will be back in the water to build up her muscles, so i am hoping she will get back to strength quickly, should get a better idea today how long it will take as i think my oh said that the x-ray showed up 3 breaks on the same bone.
will let you know how she gets on.
well thats us just back from the hospital a lot quicker than what i thought we would be, anyway she gets the cast of in 10days time on the 3rd of november. so at least she should still make the met in buckie now, as she will be back in the water on the monday night.
In reply to Torvaig's question about volunteer drivers, this is done through the Ambulance Service in Inverness. Have not got the direct number at the moment but you can call on 01463 732000 and ask for the Non Emergency Manager. She will give you all the required information that you may need.
I have been reading some of the replies on this topic with interest. Unfortunately this service was being abused by users in the past and stricter criterea had to be brought in as to who can use the service. This will mean at times some people who may think that they should get access to free transport find otherwise. I do not know what questions are now asked when trying to book the non emergency service (NES) but I would gently suggest that not bieng directly on a bus route does not automatically qualify you for this service.
However, I do sympathise when apparent genuine cases cannot access the service. I do know that there is a drastic shortage of volunteer drivers in Caithness. Maybe that some who read this may be interested.
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