Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Hi All

I work as a Cancer Advisor, within a Cancer Support Organisation. Currently we are finding that more and more patients are having difficulties attending appointments for essential treatment due to travel costs. We are very lucky to have hospital transport but it often means patients waiting around for many hours which doesn't help with their fatigue, also some patients are happy to continue being independent for as long as possible. I was thinking that if we had a designated newsagents in our community perhaps residents would pop in with one or two pounds which would help top up our patients Oyster Cards. This will hopefully be short term as I am talking to TFL for a permanent solution to this problem. Any thoughts or opinions will be appreciated. Thanks

Link to comment
https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/33830-travel-cost-for-cancer-patients/
Share on other sites

hilili Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Hi All

> I work as a Cancer Advisor, within a Cancer

> Support Organisation. Currently we are finding

> that more and more patients are having

> difficulties attending appointments for essential

> treatment due to travel costs. We are very lucky

> to have hospital transport but it often means

> patients waiting around for many hours which

> doesn't help with their fatigue, also some

> patients are happy to continue being independent

> for as long as possible. I was thinking that if we

> had a designated newsagents in our community

> perhaps residents would pop in with one or two

> pounds which would help top up our patients Oyster

> Cards. This will hopefully be short term as I am

> talking to TFL for a permanent solution to this

> problem. Any thoughts or opinions will be

> appreciated. Thanks


Hilili

Don't you advise cancer patients to apply for a Freedom Pass? Cancer is recognised as a disability and anyone who has cancer and is suffering from fatigue that makes waiting for and having to stand on, public transport, certainly used to be eligible for a Freedom Pass. This would give them free travel on buses and the underground and most of the overground at all times, plus free rail travel after 09:30. Have the rules been changed for Freedom Passes so they couldn't get one?

ianr Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Is there any rationale for restricting such help to cancer patients?


Yes there is - and it ties in with langlounge's point. I believe that freedom passes are generally only available for people with more severe or long term mobility issues. A cancer patient suffering from exhaustion and fatigue may not meet that criteria, so I can see how having transport costs covered could be a huge help.

Jermy, I think you've misconstrued my question, so I'll rephrase it: Is there any rationale for offering such help only to cancer patients?


I have looked up the actual conditions,. There's a useful recent DfT guidance document too: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/181507/eligibility-review.pdf [PDF, 316kB]

I understood the question perfectly. But I'm not really sure why you're asking it.


The OP is obviously initiating this as part of their role within a cancer support organisation. So if you're suggesting that they open it up to the wider community, then that would clearly be out of scope.

langlounge Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> hilili Wrote:

Hi Langlounge


Thanks for this, Obviously we apply for Freedom Passes and do complete benefit checks. This is my experience of working with various local authorities, the patient applies to their local borough, having Cancer does not fast track the application, e.g for a patient being treated for Lung Cancer, if you can walk a certain distance - you don't qualify, if the applicant is successful it can take up to six weeks, I am working with local authorities and TFL to try to get something in place long term but this was just a thought,for short term immediate help. > --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Hi All

> > I work as a Cancer Advisor, within a Cancer

> > Support Organisation. Currently we are finding

> > that more and more patients are having

> > difficulties attending appointments for

> essential

> > treatment due to travel costs. We are very

> lucky

> > to have hospital transport but it often means

> > patients waiting around for many hours which

> > doesn't help with their fatigue, also some

> > patients are happy to continue being

> independent

> > for as long as possible. I was thinking that if

> we

> > had a designated newsagents in our community

> > perhaps residents would pop in with one or two

> > pounds which would help top up our patients

> Oyster

> > Cards. This will hopefully be short term as I

> am

> > talking to TFL for a permanent solution to this

> > problem. Any thoughts or opinions will be

> > appreciated. Thanks

>

> Hilili

> Don't you advise cancer patients to apply for a

> Freedom Pass? Cancer is recognised as a disability

> and anyone who has cancer and is suffering from

> fatigue that makes waiting for and having to stand

> on, public transport, certainly used to be

> eligible for a Freedom Pass. This would give them

> free travel on buses and the underground and most

> of the overground at all times, plus free rail

> travel after 09:30. Have the rules been changed

> for Freedom Passes so they couldn't get one?

What about the Taxi Card scheme?

Someone I know has cancer and needs to travel to Guys Hospital for sessions of chemo, the Palliative Care Team at Kings have applied for a Taxi Card for him. Because of the cancer in his spine - he uses a wheelchair so public transport is more difficult.

  • 2 weeks later...

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • Here's the part of march46's linked-to Southwark News article pertaining to Southwark Council. "Southwark Council were also contacted for a response. "Councillor James McAsh, Cabinet Member for Clean Air, Streets & Waste said: “One of Southwark’s key priorities is to create a healthy environment for our residents. “To achieve this we closely monitor legislation and measures that influence air pollution – our entire borough apart from inland waterways is designated as a Smoke Control Area, and we also offer substantial provision for electric vehicles to promote alternative fuel travel options and our Streets for People strategy. “We as a council support the work of Mums for Lungs and recognise the health and environmental impacts of domestic solid fuel burning, particularly from wood-burning appliances. “We are currently updating our Enforcement Policy and changes will allow for the issuing of civil penalties ranging from £175 to £300 for visible smoke emissions, replacing the previous reliance on criminal prosecution.  “This work is being undertaken in collaboration with other London boroughs as part of the pan-London Wood Burning Project, which aims to harmonise enforcement approaches and share best practice across the capital.”
    • The solicitor is also the Executor. Big mistake, but my Aunt was very old, and this was the Covid years and shortly after so impossible to intervene and get a couple of close relatives to do this.  She had no children so this is the nephews and nieces. He is a single practitioner, and most at his age would have long since retired - there is a question over his competence Two letters have already gone essentially complaining - batted off and 'amusingly' one put the blame on us. There are five on our side, all speaking to each other, and ideally would work as a single point of contact.  But he has said that this is not allowed - we've all given approval to act on each others behalf. There are five on her late husband's side, who have not engaged with us despite the suggestion to work as a team, There is one other, who get's the lion's share, the typicical 'friend', but we are long since challenging the will. I would like to put another complaint together that he has not used modern collective communication (I expect that he is incapable) which had seriously delayed the execution of the will.   I know many in their 80s very adept with smart phones so that is not an ageist comment. The house has deteriorated very badly, with cold, damp and a serious leak.  PM me if you want to see the dreadful condition that it is now in. I would also question why if the five of us are happy to work together why all of us need to confirm in writing.             The house was lived in until Feb 23, and has been allowed to get like this.
    • Isn’t a five yearly electricity safety certificate one of the things the landlord must give for a legal tenancy?
    • Very sorry to hear this, but surely the landlord is responsible for fixing the electrics?  Surely they must be insured for things like this? I hope you get it all sorted out quickly.
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...