Grantham man's anger at not being eligible for free hospital transport

A man who suffers from Rheumatoid arthritis has been told that he is no longer eligible for free hospital transport.

Graham Foreman, 57, of New Street, Grantham, phoned Thames Ambulance Service Limited (TASL) to book transport for his next hospital appointment in Lincoln, only to be told that he no longer meets the criteria despite claiming that he has been eligible before.

Graham, who spent seven years in the forces, said: “Nothing has changed in my condition so I don’t understand why I am suddenly not deemed eligible for the free service.”

Graham said that he was told by the call operator that as he can walk unaided to a taxi or vehicle, doesn’t need physical help i.e the aid of a walking stick and is receiving higher rate mobility pay, then he does not fall into the correct category for free transport.

A spokesman from TASL said: “When a patient calls the TASL Contact Centre to request an NHS funded transport booking, they are screened for eligibility using criteria defined by the relevant NHS Commissioner. Patients are asked a set of confidential questions, the answers to which determine whether a booking can proceed or not.

“Whenever a patient is made ineligible, our Contact Centre staff signpost the patient to alternative modes of transport such as the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme.

“Sometimes patient eligibility can be a grey area particularly in relation to the patient’s specific mobility restrictions. Where this occurs, the decision is internally reviewed and may be referred to our NHS commissioners to assist in the interpretation of the criteria.

“Our commissioners have made it clear that where patients receive the Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance, they are ineligible to use free Patient Transport Services.

“The benefit is specifically intended to support the cost of a patient making their own way to appointments.”