Message from Sue Hackett, Ruyton XI Towns Parish Clerk.
This may be of interest to some members of our community.
Best Regards
Sue Hackett
Ruyton XI Towns Clerk & RFO
Tel 01743 719012
Local older people asked to share stories of stressful hospital journeys
Healthwatch Shropshire, the local healthcare consumer champion, and Age UK Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin are asking older people from Shropshire to share details of the difficulty they have in getting to and from hospital appointments.
The 'Painful Journeys' campaign, which has been launched by Age UK, seeks to highlight the long, uncomfortable and often painful journeys that many older people have to endure when they are unwell, in order to have treatment or consultations. It calls for an urgent government review of essential transport services.
Almost a fifth (18%) of over-65s who have attended a hospital appointment in the past year – more than one million people – reported feeling worse afterwards because of the stress involved in the journey, according to new research from the charity.
This comes at a time when Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust are about to increase their car parking charges from 1 November, community transport schemes are facing an uncertain future with national discussions about changes to licensing, and hospital non-emergency transport services are under pressure from increasing demand and budget constraints.
Age UK warns 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 point of crisis more likely.
In order to gather evidence of this locally, Healthwatch Shropshire, the independent health and social care consumer champion, is asking older people in the county to share their experiences of getting to and from hospitals so these can be fed into the debate.
Jane Randall-Smith, Chief Officer, Healthwatch Shropshire, said: "Getting to hospital for an appointment or to visit a relative can be a long journey using public transport. Some services, such as neurology, are now being provided out of the county which can add to the difficulties of reaching hospitals for non-emergency treatment. We really want to hear from older people who are experiencing difficulties in getting to and from hospital."
Heather Osborne, Chief Executive, Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin, said: "As we grow older, so too do our chances of having multiple health conditions requiring regular outpatient appointments. If older people cannot actually get to the hospital services they need, or have to endure long, painful and stressful journeys in order to access them, this translates into extra costs for the NHS, which we know is already stretched to the limit."
To share your experience of a painful or difficult journey to hospital please call Healthwatch Shropshire on 01743 237884 or go to www.healthwatchshropshire.co.uk
For more information about local transport options for older people in Shropshire please contact Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin on 01743 233123.
-- Yoland Brown Brownhill House B&B & Garden, Ruyton XI Towns nr. Shrewsbury SY4 1LR Tel: 01939 261 121 brownhill@eleventowns.co.uk www.eleventowns.co.uk www.eleventowns.org uk www.eleventowns.com ShACC - Shropshire Alternative Car Club - www.ShACC-uk.org MAILING LIST for Ruyton XI Towns area Yo`s blog: http://Yo-emails.blogspot.co.uk
