Painful Journeys

Over the past year, Age UK has heard from thousands of older people who've told us they really struggle with getting to their appointments.

So that's why on 20 October we're launching our Painful Journeys campaign, which is calling on the Government to review the way older people travel to their routine hospital appointments. Local partners can get involved and help us campaign for a review.

What’s the issue?
 Over 1.45 million older people struggle to get to their routine medical appointments. We expect this issue will be familiar to many of you in North Tyneside. The key problems that older people (and their families) say they face when trying to get to routine hospital appointments fall into three main categories:

• Distressing and difficult public transport journeys to and from hospital - like John who has to travel on three different buses to get to his appointments despite having severe Parkinson’s.
• Hospital provided patient transport services are very patchy in quality – some patients like Connie are waiting alone for hours after chemotherapy to be picked up and taken home.
• Extra costs to older people and their families – many people are having to pay for expensive taxis because there’s just no other way to get there.

 What will we be doing?
Age UK will be targeting Philip Dunne MP, the Minister responsible for patient transport within the Department of Health.  
We will be asking campaigners to write to their MPs with our campaign report.
We will be asking older people themselves to document just how bad their journey to hospital is so we can put pressure on the Minister.  
 Why get involved?
From what you’ve told us, this is likely to be a big issue in our area.
This is a great chance to meet key players in your area such as Clinical Commissioning Groups or your local MP.
 What can you do?
Meet with your MP and other local decision makers such as LCGS and Commissioners with a copy of the report which will be available online from 20th October. We will be producing printed copies to collect from the Bradbury Centre, North Shields.
Get in touch with us at campaigns@ageuk.org.uk if you’d like to be involved.