Patient Transfers Again

[Roger Mexico]

12 hours ago, thommo2010 said:

How many people use patient transfers and how many have complained? I remember a couple of years ago one of the drivers telling me they have huge amounts each week I can't remember the exact figure but I'm sure it was over 100 so if that's the case say 400 per month (probably more to be honest) how many of these 400 have complained?  

Thanks to Count Willaston and Beecroft's reply in the Keys today,  we actually know:

Quote

 

Mr Ashford:  I wish to ask the Minister for Health and Social Care how many complaints the Department has received in relation to the new patient transfer contract; and how many are in relation to the type of vehicle being used?

The Minister for Health and Social Care (Mrs Beecroft):  The Department’s patient transfer service had received 24 complaints by 12 noon on 27th April regarding the service provided by the new contractor for the patient transfer service, ComCab.

Since the start of their contract on 27th March, ComCab has undertaken 813 journeys[1] so the level of complaints currently represents 2.9% of the overall number of journeys made. Thirteen of these complaints referred to the use of black cab vehicles and most referred to the seating arrangements in the cab and the use of drop-down seats.

 

There's nothing here to indicate more than teething problems and a need to improve communications (which was probably needed anyway).  The real question is whether the contract will actually save money.

 

[1]  ComCab have had the contract for almost exactly a month, so this works out as about 200 a week.  Of course the question here is what a 'journey' is?  Does it mean a patient (possibly plus escort) or a cab-load (maybe several patients)?  And does it mean each way or is each journey counted as a return?

[Albert Tatlock]

This thread is brought to you by the Isle of Man Government pension deficit, and the numbers...

[hissingsid]

Anyone not using this service will not appreciate the importance of having the correct vehicles in use. To be crunched up with five other people in the back of a black cab where three of the seats are flip seats is horrendous.  Mrs Beecroft has mislead everyone over this affair.  She promised at the start to listen to complaints and also to quote her 'keep her eye on media' so someone set up a designated post on facebook and there were dozens of complaints, still there if anyone wants to check. But she then chose to ignore this and only declared the nes the office received. She has blamed the Treasury procurement team when she should have checked whether the service offered was suitable instead of giving the nod to this contract. She has blamed the previous company saying they withdrew on short notice which is untrue as they were talking about it weeks before when I was over.She is wriggling this is going to cost a lot more money in the long run because her latest advise for patients is to let the company know if they need special treatment.   The mini busses were fine, you climbed up and sat in a supportive seat .This will end in tears because Kate Beecroft is stubborn, will never admit she has made a mistake and is not up to the job.  People making comments without experiencing this service really do not know what they are talking about, l hope they never have to find out first hand.  I am concerned as a patient and as a taxpayer because when the bill comes in Kate Beecroft will not be paying it but she will be responsible.

 

 

[hissingsid]

On 5/2/2017 at 11:24 AM, Max Power said:

To say that all comments received on the service have not been positive seems a forgone conclusion. Only the whingers are going to comment as there wasn't a survey of users carried out to my knowledge?

There are a many,many, bad experiences put on the designated face book site which Kate Beecroft said she was going to pay attention to.  Remember some of these patients have just had an operation or had treatment .   There for the grace of god.

[Gizo]

Well Hissingsid, book your own taxi then if the one provided by me isn't good enough.  Jeez, where do these people get off. 

[Neil Down]

9 hours ago, hissingsid said:

Anyone not using this service will not appreciate the importance of having the correct vehicles in use. To be crunched up with five other people in the back of a black cab where three of the seats are flip seats is horrendous.  Mrs Beecroft has mislead everyone over this affair.  She promised at the start to listen to complaints and also to quote her 'keep her eye on media' so someone set up a designated post on facebook and there were dozens of complaints, still there if anyone wants to check. But she then chose to ignore this and only declared the nes the office received. She has blamed the Treasury procurement team when she should have checked whether the service offered was suitable instead of giving the nod to this contract. She has blamed the previous company saying they withdrew on short notice which is untrue as they were talking about it weeks before when I was over.She is wriggling this is going to cost a lot more money in the long run because her latest advise for patients is to let the company know if they need special treatment.   The mini busses were fine, you climbed up and sat in a supportive seat .This will end in tears because Kate Beecroft is stubborn, will never admit she has made a mistake and is not up to the job.  People making comments without experiencing this service really do not know what they are talking about, l hope they never have to find out first hand.  I am concerned as a patient and as a taxpayer because when the bill comes in Kate Beecroft will not be paying it but she will be responsible.

 

 

I have had to travel across on several occasions for procedures and paid my own taxi fares. I suggest the moaners and whingers do the same

[woody2]

10 hours ago, hissingsid said:

Anyone not using this service will not appreciate the importance of having the correct vehicles in use. To be crunched up with five other people in the back of a black cab where three of the seats are flip seats is horrendous.  Mrs Beecroft has mislead everyone over this affair.  She promised at the start to listen to complaints and also to quote her 'keep her eye on media' so someone set up a designated post on facebook and there were dozens of complaints, still there if anyone wants to check. But she then chose to ignore this and only declared the nes the office received. She has blamed the Treasury procurement team when she should have checked whether the service offered was suitable instead of giving the nod to this contract. She has blamed the previous company saying they withdrew on short notice which is untrue as they were talking about it weeks before when I was over.She is wriggling this is going to cost a lot more money in the long run because her latest advise for patients is to let the company know if they need special treatment.   The mini busses were fine, you climbed up and sat in a supportive seat .This will end in tears because Kate Beecroft is stubborn, will never admit she has made a mistake and is not up to the job.  People making comments without experiencing this service really do not know what they are talking about, l hope they never have to find out first hand.  I am concerned as a patient and as a taxpayer because when the bill comes in Kate Beecroft will not be paying it but she will be responsible.

 

 

pay for it yourself then, problem sorted....

[Gladys]

Why is free transport being provided for all but the walking wounded? Quite a few of those being transported for free, I would hazard, are perfectly fit and able to make their own way.  Those who are infirm, post-operative etc should have the benefit of the free service, not everyone and their escorts.   

Another example of pandering when times were good, now times are tougher it is hard to turn off the tap.

 

[John Wright]

It's some years ago, but when my partner was hospitalised following brain haemorrhages three times in 6 months and air ambulanced to Walton and then had regular follow up including skull reconstruction, MRSA infection, skull plate removal, we couldn't get any sense out of patient transfers.

airports provoked panic attacks.

i went over by boat and took the car ( and the dogs ) when I visited. That was looked forward to and contributed to recovery.   

Door to door in the car for follow up was easier and gave flexibility.

never asked for payment for my journies but I did ask for boat fare for the patient. It was always less than the airfare and taxi. Always refused.

must have got it wrong?

for lots of people, especially on pensions or benefits, the patient transfer costs should be met as part of the welfare state. Finances, even for the employed, are likely to be stretched during illness and sick leave.

but I do think it should be means tested and escort costs scrutinised carefully.

 

[woody2]

the users clearly aren't helping matters....

[notwell]

22 minutes ago, John Wright said:

It's some years ago, but when my partner was hospitalised following brain haemorrhages three times in 6 months and air ambulanced to Walton and then had regular follow up including skull reconstruction, MRSA infection, skull plate removal, we couldn't get any sense out of patient transfers.

airports provoked panic attacks.

i went over by boat and took the car ( and the dogs ) when I visited. That was looked forward to and contributed to recovery.   

Door to door in the car for follow up was easier and gave flexibility.

never asked for payment for my journies but I did ask for boat fare for the patient. It was always less than the airfare and taxi. Always refused.

must have got it wrong?

for lots of people, especially on pensions or benefits, the patient transfer costs should be met as part of the welfare state. Finances, even for the employed, are likely to be stretched during illness and sick leave.

but I do think it should be means tested and escort costs scrutinised carefully.

 

I suppose it depends on how much is being spent on patient transfers.

It is all well and good looking at means testing but how much would that cost to impliment?

The way I see it if you don't like the free service (or the thought of it) make your own arrangements.  If you can't afford to do that then be thankful it's paid for.

[Max Power]

17 hours ago, hissingsid said:

There are a many,many, bad experiences put on the designated face book site which Kate Beecroft said she was going to pay attention to.  Remember some of these patients have just had an operation or had treatment .   There for the grace of god.

I use the service regularly and have limited mobility and constant pain. I agree with the rear facing tilt seats being a nuisance and perhaps totally unsuitable for some patients, probably me included. We are however talking about a 20 min to half hour max taxi ride. Those in need should be placed in the conventional seats, it's not a huge issue.

I would have preferred that Bridgewater had retained the contract, they were decent guys and provided a good service but it's none of my business to interfere if the government are saving money and providing an adequate free service. 

[Roger Mexico]

9 hours ago, Gladys said:

Why is free transport being provided for all but the walking wounded? Quite a few of those being transported for free, I would hazard, are perfectly fit and able to make their own way.  Those who are infirm, post-operative etc should have the benefit of the free service, not everyone and their escorts.   

As I pointed out on an earlier thread, I suspect it's more for the benefit of the Manx NHS than of the patients.  The cost of the taxi/minibus travel is going to be tiny compared to cost of the treatment they are travelling for, and if they miss their appointment it will still have to be paid for.  Imagine the stories about someone missing vital treatment because there was a problem with the bus or there weren't enough taxis around.

The extra bureaucracy to assess who is entitled to free or organised treatment would probably wipe out any savings and there would be endless disputes and interference from politicians on behalf of constituents (there's enough trouble already about escorts).  One of the rarely considered truths about universal services is just how much they save through simplicity

[player]

I think it's all about expectation. So long as people are transported in a vehicle that's safe for all that should be good enough. 

[Mr. Sausages]