Painful Journeys Campaign

For most of us just having a hospital appointment is enough to worry about, but imagine having to make a long and complicated journey alone, in pain and and feeling anxious about not getting there in time. This is the reality for many of the older people we have heard from.

Often driving to their appointments is simply not an option. Many people we’ve spoken to don’t have a car, cannot drive due to their condition or have no friends or family to take them. Even if they can go by car, many struggle to find hospital parking or the cost of parking is prohibitive.

If older people cannot actually get to the services they need, or have to endure long, painful and stressful journeys in order to access medical treatment, this will mean extra costs for the NHS due to missed appointments, possible relapses and treatment at a point of crisis rather than preventative care.

Our Call to Action

Age UK is calling on the Government to review transport services to ensure every older person can get to their hospital appointments within a reasonable time, in a comfortable, dignified and affordable way.

Age UK is calling on the Government to conduct a review of transport services to ensure every hospital journey for an older person:

• Is reasonably comfortable 

• Is reasonably affordable

• Keeps stress and anxiety to an absolute minimum

• Gets them to and from  hospital in good time, without long waits