Free hospital transport scrapped for elderly in Dudley

Several patients have raised concerns since patient care company NSL took over the running of the service from Ambuline. They say they cannot book an ambulance to collect them from their homes anymore.

But bosses at NSL have said there has been no change in criteria and patients in receipt of mobility allowance have never been entitled to free non-urgent transport to Russells Hall Hospital.

Access in Dudley, which champions the rights of disabled people in the borough, said NSL was 'enforcing criteria that had never been enforced before'.

The group estimated that there were 'thousands' of people in Dudley receiving mobility allowance.

NSL now offers the transport service for those who have a medical need but people who receive financial assistance are ineligible.

Access in Dudley chairman Tina Boothroyd said: "If you get the mobility element of the disability allowance, if you tick yes, that doesn't qualify you for hospital transport.

"However, this has never been a problem before and I know people who have travelled on hospital transport for 16 years and have never been asked."

The mobility allowance is paid to people who have difficulty walking, through physical disabilities or other conditions.

Those in receipt of this funding are expected to use it to help them get to hospital appointments.

But many people have complained that they find it difficult to use public transport or taxis.

A woman from Kingswinford, who has been affected by the changes brought in since April, and asked not to be named, said: "I have been using the service for eight years and have never been asked the question of whether I am eligible.

"It's very frustrating and very stressful and means I can't get to my appointment.

"It's not about money. It is embarrassing for me to get on a bus or in a taxi."

Mrs Boothroyd said she had taken several calls from concerned people.

"This is going to upset a lot of people," she said. "People with disabilities who have regular hospital appointments use the transport because there is no other way to do it."

NSL spokeswoman Afrika Morris said: "In Dudley, the eligibility criteria states that a patient in receipt of mobility benefits is ineligible for transport.

"However, in some instances, a patient with severe mobility conditions may be eligible for transport.

"We are aware of a number of queries and we will be working with the CCG to address these, and any other that is brought to our attention."