"St George's transport"

Because of a recent hip replacement I was  not allowed to go to my neurology appointment at St George's by public transport, so rang the transport team at St George's and all was fixed up very easily. I also received a letter confirming all the details and was duly picked up by ambulance about an hour before my appointment at 2.10 p.m

 I was called in almost at once and was  then asked to wait for a porter to take me back to the transport lounge. This took about 35 minutes to complete and when we go there I was startled to see the space packed with mostly elderly and very infirm patients We were all moved round to fit everyone in and although there appeared to be a line of ambulances outside, no one was being moved out although many more patients were wheeled in. The staff were excellent and very kind dispensing hot drinks and biscuits and even in one case a sandwich. I was talking to a couple of ladies, one of whom had been waiting over two hours to go home and the other even longer

I was taken home after an hour in the lounge and had tea and biscuits as I had nothing  to eat since 8 a.m.

Thinking about this later  I decided that in future I would take my chance on public transport as  I will have another four months to recuperate properly, but my heart went out to those elderly people sitting in discomfort and not complaining ( as most of them were of the era when one did not complain). I got home at 5.30p.m to be greeted by my 98 year old husband with dementia, who was worried sick. He had to be left for 45 minutes because my daughter, who was caring for him had to go to another appointment and no one else was available.

It does seem that the most vulnerable people are being left behind on this aspect of hospital care, cannot something be done?

I am not criticising the hospital in any way, on the contrary I am most grateful for all my care, but it would be nice if this issue could be addressed.