Leaving hospital is an important step in a patient’s recovery, but getting home is not always as straightforward as arranging a lift or booking a taxi. For patients with reduced mobility, wheelchair users or elderly passengers, suitable hospital discharge transport can make the journey home safer, more comfortable and less stressful.
At Expedition Mini Coaches, we provide private patient transport for people leaving hospital who require a wheelchair-friendly vehicle or additional assistance with their journey.
Whether the passenger is returning home, travelling to a care home or being transferred to another healthcare facility, transport can be arranged around their individual requirements.
What is hospital discharge transport?
Hospital discharge transport is a pre-arranged service used to transport a patient after they have been discharged from hospital.
For many patients, a family member or standard taxi may be perfectly suitable. However, some people may have mobility requirements that make conventional transport difficult.
This can include passengers who use a wheelchair, elderly people with reduced mobility or patients who require additional assistance getting into and out of a vehicle.
Private hospital discharge transport provides another option when suitable transport needs to be arranged.
Who may need hospital discharge transport?
There are many circumstances where dedicated patient transport may be appropriate.
This can include:
- Wheelchair users who require an accessible vehicle.
- Elderly passengers who may need additional assistance.
- Patients with reduced mobility following a hospital stay.
- Care home residents returning after treatment or an appointment.
- Patients travelling to another healthcare facility following discharge.
- People whose family members are unable to provide suitable transport.
- Patients travelling longer distances after receiving specialist treatment away from home.
The passenger’s requirements should always be discussed before transport is booked.
Wheelchair-accessible hospital discharge transport
For wheelchair users, suitable transport is particularly important.
A conventional car or taxi may not meet the passenger’s needs, particularly if they need to travel in their wheelchair.
When arranging wheelchair-accessible hospital transport, the transport provider should be given information about the passenger’s wheelchair and mobility requirements in advance.
At Expedition Mini Coaches, we ask about these requirements when arranging the journey so that an appropriate vehicle can be considered for the booking.
Getting home after a hospital stay
After spending time in hospital, many patients simply want to return home as comfortably as possible.
However, their mobility may be different from when they entered hospital. Someone who previously travelled independently may temporarily require more assistance following treatment or a prolonged hospital stay.
This is why transport arrangements should consider the passenger’s current needs, rather than assuming that their previous method of transport will still be appropriate.
For relatives arranging transport on somebody else’s behalf, it is helpful to speak with the hospital and understand the patient’s mobility requirements before making the booking.
