I have a little boy with global development delay who is ten years old. He has many appointments and we are very grateful and appreciative of all the help and support we receive from the hospital.
However I find it very difficult to get into the hospital. My little boy sometimes walks at a Kaye walker very slowly and so walking from the car park to the relevant outpatient areas can take quite some time. It’s also very challenging if you have to carry splints and other equipment which is often the case.
There is a man who drives a Golf buggy style vehicle giving people lifts from the car park to the hospital. What a wonderful idea however he refuses to take children due to health and safety issues. This is such a terrible, terrible shame and breaks my heart every time I have to watch him drive past us and other struggling parents.
There are wheelchairs available however they do not have a lap belt therefor for a child like my son they are impossible to use. He does not understand danger and would simply dive forward and hurt himself. They also only go backwards which makes them extremely awkward to manoeuvre.
I have an idea which might help a lot. In Tesco and Waitrose you can get what’s called a disabled trolley. It’s a trolley which children from about five right up to adults can sit in and be strapped into. Then all the equipment, bags etc could go in the trolley part and the parent could happily push the child to the appointment. Quite often doctors want to see my little boy walking with his splints on at his Kaye walker but he’s so slow that I end up taking him in a wheelchair to get to the appointment and then I have to carry the splints and Kaye walker. Very very difficult !
Another idea I had was a hospital concierge service where a group of people offer to park cars for people who are struggling. After all this happens when you turn up at a hotel.
So a vehicle for lifts to the hospital from the car park would be great for children, wheelchairs with lap belts would be an improvement and my simple trolley idea would be excellent. Or the concierge service would be an absolute luxury which would reduce stress and strain for parents going through highly emotional times.
I’m happy to help put any of these ideas into place.
"Difficulty accessing hospital from car park with son's equipment"
About: Royal Hospital for Children (Glasgow) Royal Hospital for Children (Glasgow) Glasgow G51 4TF
Posted by LMum (as ),
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