Health · Healthcare & Policy · 5 hrs ago
83-year-old heart patient drove four hours for hospital tests
Charles Swift, an 83-year-old from Borth, drove himself to hospital tests in Haverfordwest after being refused non-emergency transport.
He is recovering from cancer and has had two heart attacks, and the round trip took four hours.
A call handler turned down his transport request after he said he owned a car, though the ambulance service later said the refusal would not have happened if staff had more information.
Patients are generally expected to arrange their own journeys, while non-emergency transport is available only to those who meet eligibility rules.
Public transport is difficult: trains between Borth and Haverfordwest take at least three and a half hours each way.
The ambulance service says demand is rising and journeys are sometimes cancelled when there are not enough vehicles.
It says it has changed its processes and is training staff, while local councillors are calling for better transport for people in rural areas.
Charles Swift, an 83-year-old heart patient recovering from cancer, drove himself on a four-hour round trip for tests at Withybush Hospital.
He lives in Borth, Ceredigion, about 70 miles from the hospital in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.
Swift said he was refused non-emergency patient transport after telling a call handler that he owned a car.
The Welsh Ambulance Services Trust said transport demand was rising and that changes were being made to improve the service.
- Who
- Charles Swift, an 83-year-old recovering cancer patient who has had two heart attacks.
- What
- He drove himself on a four-hour round trip for heart tests after his request for non-emergency transport was refused.
- When
- He was referred for tests in August. The year is not stated.
- Where
- From Borth, Ceredigion, to Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.
- Why
- His request for transport was refused after he said he owned a car. The ambulance service later said the decision would have differed if it had more information.
Charles Swift and Ceredigion councillors
Welsh Ambulance Services Trust
Transport eligibility
Charles Swift and Ceredigion councillors
Swift questioned why owning a car should affect access to transport, and councillors called for better hospital transport in rural areas.
Welsh Ambulance Services Trust
The trust said Swift’s transport would not have been refused if it had more information.
Service pressures
Charles Swift and Ceredigion councillors
Councillor Hugh Hughes said hospital transport bookings were frequently cancelled the day before appointments.
Welsh Ambulance Services Trust
The trust said rising demand and longer journeys strained resources and could lead to cancellations.
Swift was referred to Withybush Hospital for heart tests.
Swift was told his transport for an appointment the following Monday had been cancelled, so he cancelled the appointment.
The ambulance service reviewed Swift’s phone call and said the transport would not have been refused if it had more information.
- Age
- 83
- Journey
- Four-hour round trip
- Distance
- About 70 miles from Borth to Withybush Hospital
- Hospital
- Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire
- Transport provider
- Welsh Ambulance Services Trust
What people are saying
I can't understand why pensioners have to run about in their own car
We've changed our processes now, and we've put some training out to our call taking team, so when Mr Swift rings again, he'll get a different answer
We are seeing an increase in the volume of journeys we have to cancel where the demand exceeds our available resource
He was distraught. He didn't know how he was going to manage it. He was absolutely exhausted after the first experience.