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I should have got Hospital Transport

Posted By Murray2020

"I should have got Hospital Transport"

About: East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust / Patient transport service Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust - Queen's Medical Centre Campus

(as the patient),

I got a phone call in early January to verify my operation on my hand at the Treatment Centre on the QMC campus for three weeks later. I verified the operation and then they put me through to transport to get there and back home.   

I got put through to transport at the treatment centre and answered their questions, saying I suffer with Psoriatic Arthritis, Cerebral Palsy and severe depression. They told me I don’t fit the criteria for hospital transport, which I was astounded by, do they know anything about arthritis?

I can’t come in my car because I’m having an operation on my left hand and can’t drive the following day, I am staying in overnight of the operation. They then advised the bus, I said I don’t like riding on buses because of my arthritis. Later, that day I researched buses from to QMC, the 1st bus doesn't arrive anywhere near in time for me to get to the Treatment Centre bye 7:00 in the morning.

I have been in-touch with the head of an arthritis group I go to in Nottingham and they suggested to contact you to ask for an overnight stay the day before the operation, this still means I am going to struggle for transport to get home? I have asked friends if they can help me but all of them work full time, so I am struggling to get transport, which isn’t helping my depression. Is there anyway you can help me in anyway?

I contacted PALS at QMC who helped me a lot. They helped me in getting transport to come home a day after the operation, but non to get there. After asking a lot of friends I managed to get a lift on the day of the operation.

The day of the operation I got a lift in by a friend for my operation. After the operation the nurse discussed with me that transport would be provided for me. The following day I bumped into one of the receptionists, I spoke about my transport situation for my operation and they were really surprised and commented that I should have got transport.

Because of all of this over the transport it hasn’t helped my anxiety and depression, it got to that point I could have claimed for travelling expenses to get there because I’m on benefits and didn’t.

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Responses

Response from Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust 4 years ago
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

Submitted on 06/03/2020 at 14:24
Published on Care Opinion at 14:24

I am sorry to hear of your recent experience and glad that the PALS team were able arrange transport for you; all hospital transport enquiries at the Nottingham NHS Treatment Centre are booked through the relevant Hospital transport portals. We follow all the criteria questions that are provided on these portals, and if a patient answers a question that states they are ineligible, then we have to inform the patient that they do not qualify for hospital transport at this time.

Additionally, if a patient states they can get to their appointment by car, or public transport, with no need for medical supervision, then we would advise them to use this form of transport to attend their appointment. Often advising the patient that a taxi could be used, if public transport wasn’t the best alternative.

Kind regards

Rowena Goddard

Front of House Coordinator, Nottingham Treatment Centre

Update posted by Murray2020 (the patient)

Thank you for your reply, concerning the post I posted on Care Opinion. Firstly, this was not an appointment which you stated in your reply, it was an operation.

When I was put through to your advisor at Front of House at the Treatment Centre I was asked the questions to see if I eligible to fit the criteria, I answered all of them STATING I don’t like travelling on busses because of the vibrations of the bus which effects my arthritis. She then me asked if I could come in my car which I said I couldn’t, I later got this verified off my specialist Mr Oni that I couldn’t. I couldn’t get any lifts off my friends as they work in full time employment. You stated in the post I could use a taxi, I wouldn’t of been able to afford a taxi because it would have been £50 + for that time in the morning, would I have been able to claim this back, I don’t think so!

In the end I got a lift off a volunteer whom I do voluntary work to give me a lift to hospital, where I gave him some money to do this for me. As I said in the post, I could have claimed back this as I got someone bringing me through as I am on benefits, have I left it to late to claim this back?

Lastly, I would like to say thanks to PALS for helping me with transportation to get back home the following day after the operation on my hand.

Response from East Midlands Ambulance Service 3 years ago
East Midlands Ambulance Service

Submitted on 12/06/2020 at 17:53
Published on Care Opinion at 17:53

Dear Murray2020,

I'm afraid East Midlands Ambulance Service does not provide non-emergency patient transport services in Nottinghamshire as it is provided by private services. Therefore, the hospital is the best organisation to help you with your enquiry.

I can see that you are in discussions with the hospital so I do hope you will be able to resolve the matter.

Best wishes,

Wendy Bainbridge,

Ambulance Operations Manager for Nottinghamshire

East Midlands Ambulance Service

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