Steve Double, Member of Parliament for St Austell and Newquay, has welcomed confirmation from NHS Cornwall today that they have u-turned on potential restrictions to transport policy that would have seen many dialysis patients unable to access vital services.
Today Jacqueline Pendleton, CEO of NHS Cornwall confirmed that they will fund non-emergency patient transport services for anyone who needs to attend hospital:
• at least three times a week for a sustained course of treatment lasting a minimum of six weeks; or,
• at least six times a month for a sustained course of treatment lasting a minimum of three months.
This comes into effect from today and means all dialysis patients will be entitled and probably many cancer patients also.
Commenting, Steve said:
“This is great news and I am pleased to have campaigned hard on behalf of the many patients needing dialysis in Mid-Cornwall to retain this vital service for them for these crucial regular treatments.”
“I was shocked to hear of the proposed changes. When I investigated I discovered it did not appear that the particular needs of renal patients or other frequent users of these services had been properly considered.”
“I have since attended meetings with Kidney Care UK along with local NHS bodies to press the case for retention of these services. I am grateful to the Kernow Clinical Commissioning Group who have listened to and taken on board the points raised by my team and I and made what I believe is the right decision on this matter.”