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Hospital transport.

As some of you know from previous posts, my mother in law had a leg amputated a few months ago and was sent home from hospital with a care package in place ( carers 4 times a day) but very little else to help her cope with her disability.
Shes 83 and has dementia. With one leg, she can't do anything unaided. She cant get to the loo so is considered incontinent. She wasn't supplied with a ramp for the house so was totally housebound. She has been given a manual wheelchair but isnt strong enough to wheel herself about the house. Shes been promised an electric chair, but 6 months later...still no sign of it. No physio sesions are happening and shes eating very little. Most days shes refusing to get up.
Running up to Christmas, we have paid ( almost £3,000) to have a ramp installed so we can at leased get her out in her wheelchair for a bit of air. We have just bought an all singing all dancing relining chair (£800)... again....we were told she might be entitled to a free one...or a grant towards one....but it never happened.
There are now concerns for her other leg. Since the begining of December she has been for 3 hospital appointments. Her doctor had to arrange ambulance transport as we cannot get her into our car.....and the ambulance service were really unhappy as 'it wasnt an energency'.
Last week she had another appointment. Her other leg isnt looking good at all. But....they have finally listened to our concerns about her not eating, and bouts of sickness. 12 months ago she was supposed to have investigations...but refused to go. So last week they wanted to keep her in to do a scan. She said no so they sent her home saying they'd call her back for a scan at a later date.
Today, we reveived an email ( about 5.30) saying mums scan is this Wednesday st 9am!!
How the f**k do we get her there?? Hospital transport has to be booked 2 weeks in advance, plus, her carers dont do their first visit to get her up, changed and dressed until 9am!!
My sister in law will ring the hospital in the morning to see what can be sorted.....but its very unlikely we can get her to that appointment.
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4meAndyou · F
Here in the USA people who are on scooters or in wheelchairs can order a special bus with a lift in back. You wheel the person onto the lift, and the lift goes up and then they can be wheeled into the bus.

Southwest Tail Lift Services Ltd in Lydney, Wales is just such a Lift service.

+44-1594-800911

And if they don't service your area, they MIGHT know who does, with a tail lift bus.
RubySoo · 56-60, F
@4meAndyou in the uk you can order hospital transport, but 2 weeks in advance! No good for anprioriry appointment. We signed up and paid for for a service called dail a ride, only to find tgey beed 48 hours notice....but they also have to call before had and assess the wheelchair will fit inside the bus! Its NGS issue!!! Of course it should fit! So.. we cant use that service this time either!
Sis in law called the hospital this morning and they recommended a local taxi firm with accessable cars. So....we've booked them....£20 each way for a 5 minute journey!!! Scandalous!!! An able person in a normal taxi...that trip would cost £7!!
We are still waiting to see if the carers can actually get there early in the morning to get her up.....so far they havent returned our calls
4meAndyou · F
@RubySoo In Wales, you do have these tail lift buses. I don't understand why you wouldn't at least call them, instead of fixating on what you are allowed to have. You might have to pay privately for the bus, but at least there is a remote possibility that your MIL might make her appointment.
RubySoo · 56-60, F
@4meAndyou ive just told you the services available. The local taxi company ( so the hospital tell us) are equipped to take her in a wheelchair. I assume there is a lift of sorts on the back of the taxi. We do have to pay privately and have agreed to do so.
The point is.....how do they expect people like to get to appointments with 2 days notice when the the only transport they provide has to be booked 2 weeks in advance?

And its not about whats allowed. Its about mum's ability to access the vehicle. We have been told we must not lift her ourselves and the oc health people have stated she is not strong enough to use a transfer board. If we could get her in the car then we would. But its impossible right now.
4meAndyou · F
@RubySoo I suppose I am confused. I thought you said that the ambulance is the thing that requires 2 weeks notice, not the taxi.
RubySoo · 56-60, F
@4meAndyou that is what i said. And i also said we have booked the taxi!
But....i'm taking someone elses word for it it will he suitable and the taxi driver will help us get her in and out.....we havent seen the vehicle ourselves.
Believe me... .it wont be first time a service wasn't suitable.😟
RubySoo · 56-60, F
@4meAndyou i cant find anything about the service you mentioned. Only something about forklift trucks! 😁
Thanks so much for trying to help though sweet lady. X
4meAndyou · F
@RubySoo Yeah...sorry Ruby. I thought I was helping. I guess not.
RubySoo · 56-60, F
@4meAndyou you meant well and I thank you for that. Im praying this taxi is suitable. Hubby has taken the morning off work to go with her. The carers still gavent got back to us as to whether they can get to her earlier than usual in the morning. 😕
4meAndyou · F
@RubySoo Best of luck with everything, Ruby. I know this whole business with the MIL is beyond stressful for you. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
RubySoo · 56-60, F
@4meAndyou It is, but my sister in law in the US has made things so much worse by seemingly not believing much if what we tell her. She still has rose tinted glasses as to what the NHS provides and doesnt seem to accept that certain things have not been done. Hubs and I and other sis in London have been fighting every step of the way chasing up help and services we know mum is entitled to....but its like banging yr head against the wall 90% of the time...and sis in US saying 'you need to do this, you should be asking that' when we have and do constantly. Since Christmas, I no longer talk with her coz I was on the edge of blowing a gasket with her.....and I really dont want hubs and his sis to fall out.
4meAndyou · F
@RubySoo It's quite true that in the USA it's VERY difficult for us to understand the horribleness of the NHS. I am VERY sorry for what you have to deal with.

Your sister-in-law, apparently, lacks the mental capacity to imagine anything other than her own little world. It's probably for the best that you don't speak with her. It will be OKAY, Ruby. I KNOW it will be okay...this time, at least.
RubySoo · 56-60, F
@4meAndyou just wanted to let you know the taxi arrived this morning and it was perfect. Hubs said taxi driver was really helpful. It was very expensive, but at least we know its a reliable service next time we cant get hospital transport. 🙂
4meAndyou · F
@RubySoo That's AWESOME, Ruby. It takes SO much stress off of you. I am so, so glad.