Cancer patient gets hospital travel sorted - thanks to the Gazette

Margaret Forbes-Ryan, who lives in sheltered accommodation at Aldwych House, in Commercial Road, South Shields, says she was refused patient transport with North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) to have her monthly cancer review at South Tyneside District Hospital yesterday.

The gran-of-four was diagnosed with cancer six years ago and the disease has since spread around her body.

The 67-year-old, who uses a wheelchair following an accident some years ago, has been attending the hospital for monthly reviews for the past five years, and has never had a problem getting patient transport before.

She had cancelled her appointment but after the Gazette stepped in, it was reinstated and patient transport was arranged.

• Following Saturday’s story on Mrs Forbes-Ryan we have been asked to point out that she was not refused transport to hospital for treatment by NEAS.

In South Tyneside, bookings for NEAS’ Patient Transport Service are taken by a private provider.