Can I make it to hospital?
FOR most of us, just having a hospital appointment is enough to worry about. But imagine needing to make a long, complicated journey alone, in pain and feeling worried about not getting there on time.
Age UK is warning that many older people, the main users of the NHS, face long and uncomfortable public transport journeys to and from hospital, poor or inaccessible patient transport services and extra costs just to get them to and from routine appointments.
It is worried that difficult hospital journeys are making older people feel more unwell and adding to NHS costs due to missed appointments and possible relapses, making the need for treatment at a time of crisis more likely.
Almost a fifth of over-65s report feeling worse after attending a hospital appointment, because of the stress of the journey.
A quarter spent most of the day travelling, one in ten has been late for an appointment and 6 per cent have had to cancel their appointment.
Age UK’s campaign, Painful Journeys, is calling on the Government urgently to review the way older people travel to and from hospital. The charity is also asking people to write to their MP.