Hospital Transport
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Public concerns have been raised with i Healthwatch Torbay about transporting patients from residential/nursing homes to hospital appointments. Issues related to accessibility, times of appointments and cost to patients who had to fund their own transport. They spoke to 33 residential care home residents.
Where hospital transport is available for patients, most respondents were satisfied with the service.
Some patients are not attending appointments due to the cost of transport.
Cost of transport, i.e. private taxis, is a major issue for patients who only have the state minimum of £24.90 per week and where relatives are unable to assist.
Cost of transport is an issue for the residential/ nursing homes and some have had to provide their own transport.
There is a lack of availability of wheelchair accessible transport in general and especially for appointments at times when taxis are pre-booked for 'school runs'.