Travel Cost For Cancer Patients

[hilili]

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

[hat282]

I think this is a great idea and would be happy to donate.

[southwark girl]

Hi,

This sounds interesting, could you call Reena at the Southwark News for a story in the paper about this?

0207 231 5258

Regards

[hilili]

Thank you, I will do. Can anyone suggest good newsagents ? I usually go to one opposite Foxtons.

[Mrs Y]

Forest Hill Road Newsagents

[speedbird]

The newsagent next to Blackbird Bakery, they seem quite friendly and I think family run. Plus convenient for people on the way to/back from ED station? In Grove Vale.

[hilili]

I'll go see the this week. Thanks for the input.

[muffins78]

Great idea, I'd happily donate! The newsagent next to Lordship Lane vets are lovely....

If I drove, I'd volunteer for some journeys. Looking to apply to volunteer in Kings...

[arnold]

How about Dulwich Village newsagents - lotsa money there

[langlounge]

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?

[NunheadMum32]

what about advertising for volunteers for driving patients to their appointments? acquiring a CRB check is cheap enough and there are lots of people who would prefer to help practically rather than donate.

[ianr]

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

[Jeremy]

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.

[ianr]

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]

[Jeremy]

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.

[hilili]

-- moved topic --

[EDmummy]

Here's some info from Macmillan Cancer Support about travel costs http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Livingwithandaftercancer/Financialissues/Benefitsandfinancialhelp/Help_with_travel_and_parking/Help_with_travel_and_parking.aspx

[hilili]

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?

[Tigres Pride]

Hi Hilili

Not disregarding the other suggestions raised, have you been able to set up any arrangements with any local newsagents in the area yet? Please let us know ASAP so that those of us interested can contribute.

[Pugwash]

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.

[missbabs]

i got a taxicard when in treatment.

crazy thing was that i couldn't get a freedom pass.

the council would pay for cabs but not give me a card to use an existing service for free.

i thought it was bonkers

[Pugwash]

Freedom Passes are for those under pension age who have long term disabilities. Taxi card allows you to get greatly reduced fares up to a maximum lavel