A KIDNEY patient at York Hospital says she has been handed a "death sentence" after being told she no longer qualifies for free transport to attend her vital dialysis appointments.

Andrea Hansell, 48, of Netherwindings, Haxby, currently receives transport, organised via Yorkshire Ambulance Service, to and from the hospital to receive dialysis treatment three times a week for chronic renal failure.

But following an assessment, she has been informed by YAS that she no longer meets the criteria to continue receiving NHS-funded transport, and the Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group, which commissions YAS to provide the Patient Transport Service, has agreed with its decision.

She is one of many people affected by the cuts which have led to reports that vulnerable patients are having to make their own way home from spells in hospital and elderly people have missed appointments.

It has been estimated the changes could affect thousands of people.

Mrs Hansell said she does not drive and has no-one who can take her to appointments, which require her to be at York Hospital by 7am.

She also said she is unable to afford the cost of a taxi to and from the hospital each time as she receives benefits and has a limited income.

Earlier this year she suffered from peritonitis on two occasions, which she said has affected her mobility.

"For some unknown reason I have been told I no longer qualify for this free service," Mrs Hansell said.

"I appealed the ambulance service's decision with the Clinical Commissioning Group making it clear that without this transport I would die if I can’t attend my sessions. All of the alternative services they give you don’t run until later in the day. I have no other way of getting to the hospital at this time apart from taxis which would cost me about £13 each way. There is no way I can afford this.

"I have been told that they are very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, you can’t get a bigger inconvenience than dying. I fear that none of these people involved understand quite how dangerous missing your dialysis can be. I have been handed a death sentence by the very people who are supposed to care for patients."

Mrs Hansell said she will continue to receive free transport until October 12, but then she will have to find her own way of travelling to and from the hospital.

Chris Dexter, managing director of the Patient Transport Service at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, told The Press: “We can confirm that we have been in contact with this patient and we have been offering support to help her find alternative transport arrangements.

“As with all public-funded services we need to ensure that finite resources are used in the most efficient and effective way which often means having to make difficult decisions. In order to ensure the Patient Transport Service delivers an effective and efficient service to patients most in need of transport to hospital and clinic appointments we, in conjunction with our commissioners, are applying the criteria more stringently. This may mean that some patients are now deemed not eligible for transport as they are considered to be in a position to make their own arrangements.

“We will do our utmost to ensure patients receive the support they need and those patients who are found not to be eligible will be signposted to other schemes including voluntary car schemes, many of which are subsidised.”

A spokesperson for the Vale of York CCG added: "Patient transport has not been withdrawn for any patient who meets the eligibility criteria, which is assessed on a case-by-case basis.

“Shaped by an extensive consultation with service users, the new process for assessing patients’ eligibility provides a consistent and fair assessment against the criteria and ensures an equitable service is offered to eligible individuals at the right time whether that be evenings, weekends or bank holidays.

“To ensure the correct support is provided at the right time for patients’ and meets their needs, eligibility is reviewed every three months.

“The CCG does not comment on individual patients or their circumstances but we can confirm that throughout the review and commencement of the new service, the CCG and YAS, the service provider, have contacted all service users to determine eligibility, provide support through the appeals process and, where needed, signpost individuals to alternative transport providers and financial help that may be available under the National Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme.”

Mrs Hansell has contacted and explained the situation to York Outer MP Julian Sturdy, who has written formally to Phil Mettam, accountable officer at Vale of York CCG, "requesting that he acts to resolve this situation immediately".

'Patients are suffering long delays and being put at risk'

ELDERLY and vulnerable people are being forgotten amid changes to patient transport, it has been claimed.

Safety concerns have been taken up by MP Rachael Maskell, who has written to the health secretary, MP Matt Hancock, to ask him to look at the matter.

She said: “It is leaving many elderly, vulnerable people at risk or having to experience a lower level of service.”

However, Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) has said its non emergency service is for patients with clinical or mobility issues and those with the “greatest medical needs”.

A person who works for the transport service said they fear for the safety of some patients deemed ineligible.

The person, who asked not to be named, said: “Patients are suffering long delays and being put at risk.”

The patient transport service has long been supported by Age UK York, which has now been told it is no longer allowed to pick up shopping for people returning home from hospital or to help settle them in when they get home.

The person connected with the transport service said the simple kindness of helping people settle in was crucial to the wellbeing of some patients. They said it was only when you went into some homes that you realised they were not fit for habitation or the heating was broken, as happened in the instance of one elderly woman.

They said they would have feared for her safety had she been dropped off by taxi. “This is what’s going to happen if we are using taxis or people who do not know the area.”

A spokesperson for YAS said: “We are committed to providing the best quality transport service for patients with the greatest medical needs and ensuring it remains sustainable. When transport is booked, the booker will be asked a series of questions designed to ensure that the eligibility criteria is applied consistently and fairly. The same questions will be asked if patients book their own transport or if transport is arranged on their behalf. The YAS reservations team will ask about the patient’s medical needs, mobility and general transport arrangements.

“The questions may result in a different outcome than previously received. Even if a patient has received transport in the past, they may no longer be eligible for future journeys.”

A letter from Phil Mettam, of Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group, to MP Rachael Maskell, said it supports the new contract.