Travel companion

Have you tried asking your GP Surgery about patient transport? Might be nicer for you. 

Yes, patient transport said they wouldn’t cover it because it’s a private hospital, not NHS. 

Ah ok. What is it that you’re worried about? Maybe we can help to reassure you. It’s actually a pretty tedious uneventful appointment if that helps at all! 

Hi

Have you tried Age UK

Age UK works alongside other community organisations to provide door-to-door transport for older people to help them to maintain their independence. Depending on where you live, they may be able to help you with transport. 

Here's a link

www.ageuk.org.uk/.../

Hi Endocanc

Here's the tel no too

• Age UK Surrey
• 01483 503414

Hi EndoCanc

-Have you been given a Macmillan Support Worker yet? One of the first things I was given was a leaflet about where to get local support and also the name, number and an email address for a Support Worker. This is different to the CNS. The support worker would be able to tell you what is available, help wise. 

-Have you spoken to the hospital itself/ your CNS to see if there is any volunteer support available.

-you could try contacting the Red Cross via their website. They do support people with transport, companionship and are able to help with challenging times- and cancer is one of those. If they are unable to do anything direct they can also sign post you to other places.

- At your GP surgery, have you got a Community Agent? They can offer support and for my own surgery they will sometimes accompany you to appointments- it all depends on circumstances.  In my area local community groups of volunteers were set up during Covid time and some of these volunteers were connected to the local church and contactable via GP surgery. 

-The Royal Voluntary service can sometimes offer support with transport etc.

-Age UK can sometimes offer support.

A lot of support can vary from area to area so it is worth asking. It is difficult when you potentially have quite a lot of appointments. I relied on family and friends when I could and tried to share it out a bit. It can be hard though to ask for help and family and friends mainly worked. During radiotherapy I had volunteers from the Red Cross and the Rotary club doing the daily hospital journeys and I don't know how I would have managed without them. It was my Support Worker who arranged it. 

-You could give the Support Line a call and get them to do a search for what is available in your area. Sometimes there can be specific local groups that can help. You can also do it via this link.

Local Dashboard Choose Location - Macmillan Cancer - Macmillan Cancer Support

Hope this helps a bit

Jane

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Or try the WRVS

https://www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/contact-us/contact-us-form/

Hi EndoCanc

I don't have any suggestion re travel companion but just wanted to say I hope you are ok. Can see lots of great suggestions from others to you xx

It can be so hard doing things alone without family support. I am in this situation regarding medical appointments so am sending you a virtual hug because it's a horrid thing to have to do always.

Also, have you thought about speaking to someone – I've had some support from both Mind and Macmillan nurses – re the anxiety side of things when undergoing procedures alone? I found it helped me. Just in case you can't find anyone to travel with you. I'm having to accept I have zero family support – not even telephone support – around my medical stuff. I kept getting really violent emotions about feeling I should have support and didn't so I totally get those tears. For me, there was grief and a sense of loss in there so it wasn't a case of "get some pills" and I'll be fine. I actually had to deal with the horrid realisation I was totally on my own. Make sure the hospital are aware of how you are feeling too. They may be able to signpost to some emotional support around this or just make sure they take account of it on the day.

Take care. x

Anxiety travelling through London on my own.