Transport to hospital for radiotherapy

Hi Knittynanna

I appreciate your worries. I had family and friends who took me to hospital appts and to chemo but with radiotherapy it was harder to arrange. There was so many different appointments at different times and most people I knew would be working. 

Speak to your CNS about access to hospital transport. My Macmillan nurse contacted hospital transport for me. I then had to phone them and they asked a few questions and it was provided free of charge for all appointments. The drivers were volunteers from the Red Cross and were great. 

These links may help.

Non-emergency patient transport | Website (bhamcommunity.nhs.uk)

Birmingham & Solihull – For Patients – WMAS Patient Transport Service

Where I live there are also other providers, that can provide subsidised hospital transport - again volunteers but a small cost. We also have community agents at our doctor's surgery who can sometimes assist. But talk to your CNS and they should be able to help.

I think with radiotherapy, if you can sort the transport in advance so it is not something you are worrying about- it will really help you focus on the treatments.

Jane

Hi Knittynanna

I hope your treatment is going well?

I also struggled with transport to radiotherapy appointments.

I spoke to my CNS. She gave me the tel no for hospital transport and I phoned them. They were very helpful and put me in touch with the Red Cross. The volunteer drivers were all lovely and would help me with getting in and out of the car when I needed it. It was all free of charge and I gave a donation at the end to thank them as they provide a very helpful service. I arranged all my lifts in advance and would get a call from the driver the night before to confirm pick up and collection times. I had no problems at all.

I hope you manage to arrange transport and I wish you well for the rest of your treatment.

Penny Xx

Red Cross drivers were fantastic with me as well

Thanks so much Jane that's really helpful and yes I need to get it all arranged now so that I don't need to worry about it..I have spoken to nurses etc but no one seems to know anything 

Thanks penny..I had a full hysterectomy  in March with robotic surgery now am having 4to 6 rounds of chemo,can never remember  the names one begins with a c and the other is a p,(chemo brain)then I think 25 radiotherapy.my oldest son has learning disabilities &attends a day center 4days a week so every appointment  etc has to be worked around him,I'm having my 3rd chemo tomorrow (thurs)it gives me the shakes a bit and tiredness,no taste or smell,and throat gets very dry,no appetite.ill definitely  speak to the cns today if I can get hold of her,thank you ladies xx

I just phoned hospital transport who have registered  me they said I qualify for an ambulance  service..but I don't fancy thE idea of waiting up to 2hrs for the return journey..I mentioned the red Cross but he had no idea what I was taking about

Just phoned royal voluntary service no help there either,also nhs volunteer responders and same thing

In my area the Red Cross are the ones that provide the service- patient support assess the need and then pass to red cross. In some areas it may be different providers. I was always told that there was a possible wait of up to 2 hours but I think they just have to make you aware. In practice it never happened and my drivers were either waiting or I would call when ready and they would be there within 5 minutes. There was a cafe where I could sit and wait if needed. 

With the radiotherapy although the actual treatment is quick I used to be at the hospital for a couple of hours each day and longer if I had a consultant review. Used to have to get there early to do the micro enema, give that time to work and then it was drinking water and waiting 30 minutes. It took longer to undress (just trousers) and be lined up on the machine for initial scan than the actual treatments. My dept was pretty good but there was still waiting around for the machines to be ready. 

That doesn't sound so bad now,thanks Jane for all your help x

I was worried about the waiting for up to 2 hours- but I think they just have to warn you it could be a possibility. I was also told that there could be early pick ups from home as well- but that never happened. I think they just have to be prepared for if there was a big demand for the services on any one day. 

Good luck with your treatment