I wonder if anyone can enlighten me. My husband (with inoperable kidney cancer which as spread now) and I are both experiencing different but many health issues, necessitating many different location of hospital visits over a very wide area (3 counties), GP visits, collection of medication etc. My husband has had to voluntarily (but with a lot of arm twisting) give up his driving licence. As his carer but myself also disabled I have had a needs assessment and lots of helpful contacts including Macmillan Cancer Support but the numbers I have been given for transport assistance are ruled out as "not appropriate, out of date, "ring two weeks in advance" or only on a Thursday (?) et al; and we are having to fall back on to appeals on FB for help. Is this a national problem or are we just unfortunate to live where we do?
Not sure where you live but we are in Greater Manchester and are able to book hospital transport for our visits to the hospital. This is usually a taxi and is free of charge. We don’t get help for doctors appointments or collecting prescriptions but as these are local we usually drive although a taxi wouldn’t be very expensive.
Hi
My Mum lived in Derbyshire and - while suffering from terminal cancer - was able to access transport via the East Midlands Ambulance Service on the occasions I was unable to take her to hospital. The service doesn't cover GP visits though. Might be worth having a look on the ambulance service website for your area. The criteria here state that: 'NHS-funded patient transportation is reserved for when it is considered essential to ensuring an individual’s safety, safe mobilisation, condition management or recovery.' It sounds as if you and your husband would fit the bill on that basis.
Thanks very much LiviaCalibri for your reply. The ambulance service was recommended to me by PALS so did try them; lovely lady but said if I was suffering from cancer or renal issues then they couldnt take me. She thanked me for being honest in my reply, obviously this would help in my husbands case but not me! I got there yesterday thanks to a lovely lady who responded privately but for the future - who knows
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