An 83-year-old man recovering from cancer treatment and who has experienced two heart attacks faced difficulties accessing non-emergency medical transport for cardiac tests at a hospital in August. The patient, Charles Swift, lives in Borth, Ceredigion, approximately 70 miles from Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, resulting in a 140-mile round trip. When he contacted the Welsh Ambulance Services Trust for transport assistance, he was denied based on his ownership of a personal vehicle, despite his age and medical condition.
Swift reported that he was questioned about his ability to walk, climb stairs, and access to a car, and was told to use his own vehicle when he answered affirmatively to all three questions. He characterized the four-hour round trip as exhausting and expressed confusion about why vehicle ownership should disqualify pensioners from transport assistance. On another occasion, hospital transport for a Monday appointment was cancelled on Friday afternoon, forcing him to postpone his medical visit. Local councillors and community leaders described Swift as distressed following his initial appointment experience.
The Welsh Ambulance Services Trust acknowledged the situation after reviewing the call and indicated that the transport refusal would not have occurred with more detailed information. The service noted it has since modified call-taking procedures and training to prevent similar denials. Officials attributed transport difficulties to increasing demand and travel distances that exceed available resources, with cancellations occurring when demand surpasses vehicle capacity on a given day.
Community transport providers and local officials reported recurring challenges in rural areas. Dolen Teifi, a community transport charity operating in Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire with 42 vehicles and 160 volunteer drivers, fielded approximately 145 cancellation calls over two months when hospital transport was withdrawn the day before appointments, successfully assisting in roughly one-third of cases. The charity charges an average of 57p per mile and coordinates about 50 hospital appointment journeys weekly.
Hywel Dda University Health Board stated that patients are typically expected to arrange their own transport, though some meeting specific eligibility criteria—including those receiving regular dialysis, cancer treatment, or requiring stretcher or oxygen support—may qualify for non-emergency transport. Health board officials acknowledged the challenges faced by patients traveling longer distances for specialist care in the large rural area and indicated commitment to working with the ambulance service to improve available options for patients requiring transport assistance.
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