HOW CAN I GET TO MY HOSPITAL APPOINTMENT?

Bus Services to Withybush Hospital

Route No Commencing From/Via Bus Company T5 Aberystwyth /Cardigan/Fishguard Richards Bros 301 Town Service via Bus Station and Silcox Coaches Leisure Centre 302 Milford Haven via Johnston First Cymru 304 Town Service via Bus Station, Portfield, Furzy Park Silcox Coaches and Trafalgar Road 306 Milford Haven via Johnston Silcox Coaches 313 Clarbeston Road/Wiston via Crundale Silcox Coaches 322 Glangwili Hospital via Narberth, Whitland and St Silcox Coaches Clears 349 Tenby via Neyland & Pembroke Dock First Cymru 381 Tenby via Saundersfoot, Kilgetty & Narberth Silcox Coaches

Bus Services to South Hospital (Bus to/from Melville Terrace/Street) Route No Commencing From/Via Bus Company 349 Tenby and Haverfordwest via Neyland First Cymru 355 Milford via Neyland and Monkton via Pembroke First Cymru 356 Milford via Neyland and Monkton via Pembroke Silcox Coaches 357 Monkton via Pembroke Silcox Coaches 387/8 Angle Peninsula (Hundleton - Angle – Bosherston - Silcox Coaches Stackpole

Bus Services to New Tenby Cottage Hospital Route No Commencing From/Via Bus Company 380 Tenby Town Service via Penally, Oakridge Acres, Silcox Coaches The Glebe, Lady Park, The Norton and South Parade.

For details of bus times, please contact Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 or visit www.traveline.cymru

Withybush to Glangwili - Bus 322 is operated by Silcox Coaches and runs Monday to Saturday each week. The first bus leaves Haverfordwest bus station at 9.05am, calling in at Withybush Hospital, , Canaston Bridge, , Cox Hill, Narberth, Redstone Cross and Llandewi Velfrey in Pembrokeshire, and takes just over an hour to arrive at Glangwili Hospital. There are two further buses leaving at Haverfordwest at 12.05pm and 15.05pm, and the buses return from Glangwili at 10.20am, 13.20pm and 16.20pm. The cost of a return ticket is a maximum of £7.50 for an adult (starting and returning to Haverfordwest) unless you have a concessionary travel pass.

All Concessionary Travel Pass – This entitles Welsh residents aged 60 years plus and people with disabilities to free travel on local bus services throughout Wales and concessions on many transport services. For further information please contact the Council's Transport Unit on 01437 764551.

What if I don’t have transport and can’t use Public Transport?

The Welsh Ambulance Service’s Patient Care Service can arrange free transport to and from routine outpatient appointments at clinics, hospitals and day centres.

You will need to meet certain criteria to qualify but if you answer yes to any of the following questions you should be entitled to transport:

 Do you need to travel in a wheelchair?  Do you need continual support to walk?  Do you suffer from a mental health problem, learning disability, speech, sight or hearing difficulty, which prevents you from using public transport?  Do you experience side effects as a result of your medical treatment or condition, which prevents you from using public transport?  Do you need a stretcher, or oxygen or other medical gases for the journey?  Do you currently receive regular dialysis or cancer treatment?

As well as accident and emergency services, the Welsh Ambulance Service also arranges and provides transport free of charge to hospital or dentist surgeries for patients who are medically unfit to travel by any other means.

Please call 0300 123 2303 for more information. At least 48 hours’ notice is usually required.

Can someone come with me?

There are times when a carer will be able to accompany you on the Hospital transport, for example if you require constant care throughout the journey, if you have severe communication difficulties or a mental health condition that makes it unsuitable for you to be unaccompanied or if you require support for a first referral or you are receiving dialysis or cancer treatment or if you are under 18.

What if my appointment is now in a different County?

If you qualify for the help above then they will be able to provide transport to any hospital that the appointment is in.

What if I don’t qualify for free transport with the Hospital Transport Service?

If you do not meet the criteria for the Patient Care Service free Hospital Transport you may be able to access other forms of transport available.

 Pembrokeshire Country Cars – This scheme is run by the Royal Voluntary Service and provides transport for people who can’t make their journey any other way. The scheme is run by volunteer drivers using their own cars and two wheelchair accessible cars are also available. Telephone 0800 783 1584 to enquire. Ride for half price with a Concessionary Travel Pass.

 Cars 4 Carers – This scheme is run by Volunteering Matters to provide transport for unpaid carers and, if necessary, the person they care for. The service is provided by volunteer drivers using their own cars. At least 48 hours’ notice is required. Ride for half price with a Concessionary Travel Pass. For more information, call 01646 685952.

 Town Rider Services – These are door to door accessible minibus services which are operated by Green Dragon Bus, for local journeys within the main County towns. These could be used to access:

o Withybush Hospital – Haverfordwest Town Rider on Tuesdays and Fridays o South Pembs Hospital – Pembroke/Pembroke Dock Town Rider on Tues and Thursday o Tenby Cottage Hospital – Tenby & Saundersfoot Town Rider on Mon, Wed and Fridays o Cardigan Hospital – Cardigan Town Rider on Mondays, Wed and Fridays (this service can also offer a lift from and and other stops en route to Cardigan, and from Mynachlogddu on Wednesdays). There is also a St. Dogmaels dial-a-ride which operates on a Thursday from the St. Dogmaels, Moylegrove, Cilgerran and Llechryd areas.

Ride FREE with a Concessionary Travel Pass or pay a fare if you haven’t got a pass. Anyone who is unable to access public transport can use the services, for any reason. Telephone 0800 783 1584 to enquire (0845 6860242 for the Cardigan service).

 Pembrokeshire Voluntary Transport – Wheelchair accessible cars are available for private use when not in use by Pembrokeshire Country Car Service, based in Haverfordwest. To hire an accessible vehicle phone 07582 580646.

Car Club - If your car is in the garage, or you need a second car for a few days you could hire an alternative or a bigger vehicle. Includes a wheelchair accessible car. Vehicles are based in Bwlchygroes, near . Bookings are coordinated by Green Dragon Bus. For more information call 0845 6860242

Can I get help with the cost?

If you receive Income Related Benefits or have a low income you may be able to receive a refund on the cost of the journey. Patients who are in receipt of certain benefits or on the Lower Income Scheme are eligible to apply for help with the necessary transport costs for NHS treatment under the care of a consultant. The costs may be paid in full or in part and these may include:  Public Transport fares.  A mileage allowance for travel by private car or the equivalent public transport costs (whichever is less).  Contributions the patient may make towards transport costs if they are taken to or from the hospital by a community transport provider or a local voluntary car scheme.

The main contact point for this scheme will be General Offices based in each of the Hospitals.

I plan to travel by car – what about parking?

Withybush Hospital - on-site parking is free.

Glangwili Hospital – on-site parking is pay and display and costs £1 for 5 hours. However you should note that at times this car park is extremely busy and you may find it difficult to park. Carmarthen’s Park and Ride has now been extended and serves the hospital. For passengers starting their journey at Nantyci car park (Showground), parking remains FREE and bus travel to and from the town centre or the hospital will be £1 for a day return ticket with free travel for concessionary travel pass holders and children under 16 if accompanied by an adult. The service runs Monday to Saturday from 7am to 7pm.

Is there any other help?

Vulnerable young families - In some cases families will be unable to meet the initial costs of these journeys, therefore access to bus tickets may be possible for those where the new 322 and existing 381 bus services will be appropriate. Books of tickets will be available at the following wards and departments and will be issued at the discretion of the Senior Nurse on duty:  Withybush Hospital – Paediatric Ambulatory Care Unit / Midwifery Led Unit / Accident & Emergency Department / Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service.

 Glangwili Hospital – Cilgerran Ward / Special Care Baby Unit / Paediatric Ambulatory Care Unit / Midwifery Led Unit / Accident & Emergency Department / Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service.

 Action for Children Family Support transport service

 For planned scheduled appointments , this service is available Monday to Friday 9am to 9pm and weekends 9am to 4pm. Referrals can be made initially by email through a Health Board senior nurse or doctor to [email protected]. Subsequent requests can be made directly to this email as part of ongoing support to the individual and/ or family.

 For initial unplanned or unscheduled journeys, transport referrals can be made by the Health Board nurse or doctor by telephoning Action for Children on 07921 941 844 . Subsequent requests can be made directly to this number as part of ongoing support to the individual and/ or family.

NON EMERGENCY PATIENT TRANSPORT CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Patients registered with Pembrokeshire & Carmarthenshire GP Practices contact 0300 123 2303

Patients registered with Ceredigion GP Practices contact 0845 840 1234

For all other Patient transport enquiries contact the Central Transport Unit on 01267 229620