Apology for Swansea OAP's trek to car park
HEALTH board bosses in Swansea have apologised to a pensioner after he had to take a taxi from Morriston Hospital's car park to its main building.
Hugh Jones, aged 89, of West Cross, said he took the drastic action when faced with a long trek around building work between the new multi-storey car park and the hospital entrance when attending an appointment last week.
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Former sailor Hugh Jones has difficulty walking
The former Royal Navy sailor said: "I have a significant disability and can only walk with difficulty using two walking sticks.
''I had an appointment at Morriston Hospital and drove my car into the new car park.
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"I had to walk from the car park to hospital, which is a very long way. I had to stop every few yards to catch my breath and recover. Then there was the very long walk along the corridors."
Not feeling up to the return journey, Mr Jones was forced into taking drastic action.
He said: "When I came back I couldn't face the walk all the way, so I had to spend £3 on a taxi."
Mr Jones said he faces more appointments, and a taxi from his home to the hospital would cost £51, so he will be forced to do the same next time.
A spokeswoman for Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board said: "We're sorry to hear that this gentleman has been inconvenienced in this way.
''Morriston Hospital is currently undergoing a £102 million redevelopment, and work has begun on an extension which includes a new main entrance. When it is complete it will actually be much closer to the new multi-storey car park than the existing entrance is now.
"However, to enable the work to be carried out we have had to set up temporary pedestrian routes around the building site.
''We apologise to anyone who has been inconvenienced by this.
"We are doing all that we can to minimise the disruption during the redevelopment.
''This includes installing benches and covered shelters along the route from the car park to the hospital." She added: "There are also disabled spaces in the main car park, as well as others strategically placed across the hospital."
OAP told to take £40 taxi to A&E — page 22
Comments
by Jimmy122
Saturday, November 03 2012, 9:39PM
“Sorry but I disagree about being unable to get a disabled parking space in Morriston Hospital, from the top of my head I can count 30 just around the Main Outpatients area and are some regularly unoccupied!! Also this gentleman saw the need to get a taxi from the hospital to his car - why would he need a phone number?? I'm sure if he felt he would encounter difficulties walking back to his car the nurses in Outpatients would have called someone to assist him ... sorry but this reeks of attention seeking yet again an no-one is taking responsibility for their own well being. And yes there are a number of transport options available to patients with 'significant disabilities'”
by Dai_Chotomy
Saturday, November 03 2012, 5:19PM
“I hope the DVLA have asked for a medical report on whether this old gentleman should be driving at all. It strikes me that an emergency stop could be something of a lottery.”
by Dan01
Saturday, November 03 2012, 4:33PM
“siarad2 "LOL you need a disabled sticker for that"
Surely this chap ,at 89 and unable to walk a matter of yards, has a disabled sticker. Is this story another of EP's sensational scoops?”
by gorseboy
Saturday, November 03 2012, 12:51PM
“jimmy122
I don't drive now,but past experience shows these spaces are used quickly and often by non badge holders.The bus is easier even if it is from the new car park down to out patients,getting back is a problem for the car owner/driver unless you go out to the road on one bus to connect with one going to the main hospital entrance,bit of a roundabout but saves walking if you have difficulty like this man.I call it forward planning like most of my journeys now take a bit of thought how to get there and back home.”
by siarad2
Friday, November 02 2012, 9:25PM
“LOL you need a disabled sticker for that”
by Jimmy122
Friday, November 02 2012, 6:20PM
“Why not use the disabled parking outside the main outpatients department??”
by gorseboy
Friday, November 02 2012, 5:08PM
“apharold
The Blue suite along with Green,Yellow and Orange suites are all in the main Outpatients Dept.at the lower end of the Hospital.A map is available from OP enquiries,there is disabled parking near the entrance and because of building works the No.4 (Bendy) Bus stops a matter of twenty yards from the entrance.
I attend on a regular basis following major surgery and a blood disorder and prefer to use the bus as parking there is diabolical.
The appointment letter tells you that an Ambulance service can be booked but be prepared to wait after you are seen.This service operates from next to Orange suite,bit of a walk from the others though.”
by sueswansea
Friday, November 02 2012, 5:01PM
“Why cant they give out a phone number to people in this situation to have a porter or another hospital worker take him across in a wheel chair ?”
by hacker_jack
Friday, November 02 2012, 3:00PM
“Taxi West Cross to Morriston I'd say £20-£25"
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He also has to get back again.”
by clarysage50
Friday, November 02 2012, 12:39PM
“This is just a suggestion but could the local Red Cross help out?? I believe that they used to run some hospital shops in the Swansea area.....maybe something could be worked out?? I feel so sad for this gentleman as he appears to have no one who can help him.”