Taxi drivers say changes to the road running behind the Royal Sussex will mean higher fares and a longer walk for elderly and immobile patients being dropped off there.
Up until this month, patients taking a taxi to the Millennium Wing at the back of the hospital site have been able to be dropped off and picked up at its entrance.
But now the road changed back to two way after a few years of being one-way during building works, the western end has closed, and taxis are now being directed to the car park next door – about 100m away.
And queues to get into the car park can sometimes lead to waits of several minutes to get to the drop off point – pushing up fares.
Andrew Peters, of the Brighton and Hove Cab Trade Association, said: “No thought has gone into this with clearly no consideration given to people who may already be under stress.
“With security cameras in place, drivers appear at risk of getting a penalty notice for just doing their job when taking vulnerable people to and from the hospital.
“This needs a rethink to have a dedicated drop-off and pick-up point for taxis to assist people when all they want to do is get to their appointment on time, or get home with any fuss.”
A spokeswoman for University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, said the road was originally two-way before the hospital redevelopment.
She said: “As part of the planning requirements during the build, the road became one-way traffic for a temporary period.
“Following the opening of the new Louisa Martindale building, the North Service Road has returned to two-way traffic, as per planning permission, and reverted to the previous traffic flow.”
She also said all outpatient appointments now take place within the Louisa Martindale Building where there are drop off and pick up locations.
Taxi drivers say a lot of things, and once again, they have been proven incorrect. Andrew Peters would do well to find out some information before making silly comments like this one.
Yes taxi drivers are known to be chatty about a lot, thing is you are chatting and getting it quite wrong akso. No NHS do not pay for fares for everyone as you might think according to your comment. It is awkward to drop patients for appointments that are not always in the new building. Ques form fast and a faster in and out drip off option would help everyone not just cab drivers. I think it’s positive to point out where improvements could be made. Not helpful to to vilify cabbies for this. WE already do enough to warrant vilification away from the hospital. Have a good day.
Benjamin, you clearly haven’t been there in a cab this week just gone. I have, with one of my elderly relatives. Andrew Peters is spot on. Getting a taxi home was easier.
Funnily enough, I go there more often then I suspect everyone who comments on this website combined, Fern. This is a non-issue. Fares are a non-issue, they are paid for by NHS, and the DL is where people will be going for appointments, again making Andrew Peter’s opinion pointless.
This is a taxi driver complaining without any real substance, I’m afraid.
It must be great to know everything!
Clever dick!!!
Hmm,
NHS do not pay every one for travel to the hospital so you’re wrong on that one.
Helen, if you’re referred to hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests by a doctor, dentist or another primary care health professional, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).
“She also said all outpatient appointments now take place within the Louisa Martindale Building”
Except for:
– gynaecology assessment
– maternity assessment
– digestive diseases & endoscopy
– renal
– renal dialysis
– haematology
– cardiac day case
– vascular
– emergency ambulatory day case (A&E follow-up appointments)
Plus all appointments at the children’s hospital.
…to which you can be moved via wheelchair or bed if it’s really needed, and for things like Cardiacs, you’re typically coming in via PTS so none of this applies. Strawmanning doesn’t make for a good case. A taxi isn’t changing this at all. Also worth noting is where these wards will be placed once the work is complete.
Have you any idea how few porters and carers we have? Clearly not, this is impractical, indeed laughable, you would know this if you worked there.
Porters do an amazing job, and really underpaid for it. PTS will always take you to your needed ward as standard. For others, if you need support, to travel through the hospital, there is nothing stopping friends and family, or having some preplanning beforehand.
Again, taxis are still a non-issue here.
Not all patients and visitors who attend the Royal Sussex County Hospital get their taxis paid for by the NHS.
Peter, you will be pleased to know that if you’re referred to hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests by a doctor, dentist or another primary care health professional, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).
It is not well known about, I concede.
I work for a private front line and pts company and not a small number but a large number of taxi drivers do not follows the rules any way they park on double yellow lines constantly with or without patients , park across the back of ambulances so the ramps can’t be accessed and when asked to move politely they are often rude I accept that parking for ambulances and taxes is not ideal but if every one worked together and stick to the rules it would work fine
That can be quite disruptive, I agree. The upcoming change in A&E and UTC and reclaiming that space for ambulance parking will make a difference.
So if you are an ordinary person bringing a relative to the hospital for an appointment where can you now drop them off? There seems to be very little space at the front of the new building to do so.
“She also said all outpatient appointments now take place within the Louisa Martindale Building where there are drop off and pick up locations.”
Hope this helps.
Patronising chump
Shame you don’t know what you are talking about NHS don’t pay everyone’s taxi fare what if you are in a wheelchair dropping them off in the car park isn’t good how do they get to where they need to be there should be a drop off and pick up point
Just another money-making scam
It’s just the same at Eastbourne Hospital. Nowhere to drop off for pick up it’s all taken up with ambulances absolutely pathetic
When we needed taxis to drop us at Renal, my husband struggled to walk, they wouldn’t and dropped him at A an E. Dreadful service from taxi drivers
Own of the upcoming improvements is the link those two buildings together to make it mor readily accessible.
People still need to be dropped at the Millenium wing for treatments or consultions. I have taken three people up there myself last week where you cannot drop at the entrance, but have to take those people to the car park to walk back.
All that had been requested is a simple drop-off point so patients can be on there way. The purpose of this is to benefit the customer and not the taxi driver so their should be some empathy for those people.
The entrance to the tower block now has aextremely limited space for taxis to wait as this is usually used by ambulances and police cars.
And to the person who inferred thst people being taken or puck up by taxis have the cost paid by the
NHS, this is simply not true.
Andrew Peters
If you’re referred to hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests by a doctor, dentist or another primary care health professional, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).
You don’t see it, because it is refunded to the patient. Once again why I suspect your comments are not well-informed.
May I recommend that you attend the next HLG meeting if you are interested in the topic? I am sure they will benefit from your perspectives.
There needs to be closer drop off points to the main departments just having the odd drop off points in some way away from where access is won’t help anyone think of those who are unable to walk far. This has always been a problem like parking
Took a cab today, dropped off at Donald Hall Road which was ok. However, leaving the hospital, the Barry Building was blocked off. If only they’d have been a signpost to indicate we could still get out. However back to Donald Hall Road. we intended to cross over to south side where taxi rank is, but my husband became breathless. I’m sure porters are great, but couldn’t see one when on hospital grounds, and we felt stuck, but managed it. Not great. Hopefully, will be better next time, however it makes us feel we should invest in a wheelchair just to get us to a taxi.
Is there a drop off and pick-up point adjacent to the Louisa Martindale Building?
Where are the drop off places for the LOUISA Martindale Building?