£50 cost of round trip to hospital
Published on 7th August 2008 in Letters
Sir - Know what the NHS stands for? If you are of a vulnerable age needing urgent medical attention at an inconvenient time, then 'No Help Service' may be the appropriate term.
An elderly friend living at a residential home in the Goole area had to visit an evening clinic at Scunthorpe General Hospital last week, but, because of the lateness of her appointment, her carers were told that they would have to organise their own transport. It was not possible, they were informed, for any kind of patient-transfer vehicle to be used.
Financial help towards such transport is available only to those on low incomes. Unfortunately, as my wheelchair-bound friend is not on Income Support, is not claiming income-based Jobseeker's Allowance and does not receive Pension Credit, she had to foot the entire bill for private transport - £50. Either that, of course, or forgo a vital consultation…
It's all very well this government ploughing vast amounts of extra money into extending health care if the end result, as in this instance, is a badly-hatched "improvement" that frustrates both patients and carers alike.
I'd like to suggest that evening appointments at SGH are not made for Goole patients unable to get there under their own steam or with the help of their loved ones. Surely that's not too much to ask.
DISAPPOINTED
(Name and address supplied)