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Care Opinion

Easy wheelchair access and availability

Posted By Sandie P

"Easy wheelchair access and availability"

About: East Surrey Hospital / Cardiology

(as a relative),

When my elderly mother aged 90 attends for an outpatient appointment, she always orders a taxi. On arrival she requires a wheelchair due to her inability to walk more than a few yards.

She claims that the area where wheelchairs are located is too great a distance for her to walk and that the appointment booking in procedure is too long. She cannot stand in a queue for more than a few minutes as she is diagnosed with heart failure.

Is there any form assistance for patients in this predicament who require some able bodied assistance? She is not asking for hospital transport but just for some assistance on arrival and departure.

Sadly family members are not always available to be on hand.

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Responses

Response from Ian Mackenzie, Director of Information and Facilities, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust 11 years ago
We are preparing to make a change
Ian Mackenzie
Director of Information and Facilities,
Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

I am responsible for everything to do with facilities, estates and IT. This includes our £50m building programme, food, cleaning, estates, porters, telephones, IT, transport, car parks and anything similar. Also leading our new Patient Experience Programme.

Submitted on 24/04/2013 at 17:01
Published on Care Opinion on 25/04/2013 at 09:27

picture of Ian Mackenzie

Dear Sandie P

If your mother goes to the Main Entrance the Receptionist staff are able to assist patients or visitors who require a wheelchair. They will fetch a wheelchair located by the Trauma & Orthopaedic clinic and if one is not available there they will use the one kept behind Reception.

The Receptionists and most of the volunteers (who are able to do so) are also available to take the patients to their outpatient appointment if a family member/relative/friend is unable to do so or did not accompany them to the hospital.

When your mother is ready to go home the Receptionists will book a taxi for her and would suggest that your monther sits in the coffee shop area by Reception until the taxi arrives. If your mother then requires assistance, the Receptionists will help with taking her and any belongings to the taxi.

I hope this is helpful?

regards

Ian

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