"Thankyou to Kings Mill staff, Arriva transport..."

Firstly, we were extremely happy and grateful to all the staff in the Ultra Sound, x-ray and A&E departments, could not have been nicer and more helpful.

Well done to all.

Secondly, we are disgusted and upset with the "service" provided by the transport companies.

Arriva came to pick us up as arranged.

The two gentlemen were excellent.

I was allowed to travel with my 88 year old mother who had to be chair lifted down stairs and stretcher transported to hospital for 6.00pm appointment, as arranged. Arrived nice and early for appointment. Great start. Ultra sound finished, nurse telephoned for transport with patient ref. number 6.00 pm. Arriva could not give a time but nurse explained the dept closed at 8.00pm.

We realise this is not a taxi service and there are other patients so began to wait and wait.

My mother is diabetic so I had brought chocolate biscuits as she had nothing to eat since 12.00 ready for the scan.

Department was then ready to close so nurse rang again and was told the transport would be on its way so she took us to the x-ray dept while we waited.

9.00 came and went, more phone calls.

By this time we had lost all track of time and my mother was beginning to get more upset.

Transport arrived, 2 very rude women, no chair or stretcher said they were told she could walk.

I said that the same arrangements had been made for the return journey as the inward.

They said they would have to go get a stretcher trolley then, 20 minutes later came back with trolley began moving mother onto it when one of the women decided she wasn't going to chair lift my 9stone mother upstairs at home as she had a bad back.

I suggested they get on to their office and begin arranging an alternative crew.

Another 10 minute phone call and then they left.. We waited, mother then realised her blood sugar was getting low and asked your staff if they could test her blood which they kindly organised very quickly and was found to be dangerously low and took her down to A&E where she was stabilized and monitored.

I cannot praise your staff enough but the transport services are letting the NHS down greatly.

We eventually got transport home (different company 2 women again) just after 2.00am the following morning.

Very distressing for both my parents who are both 88. Not a good way to treat elderly people who have worked hard all their lives, we just felt like we were being a bother and a chore to these women.