Hospital staff unaware of free transport when discharging patients
Sick and elderly people discharged from Christchurch Hospital are potentially being left out of pocket by exorbitant taxi fares home.
Dianne Pierce said she was flabbergasted at the cost quoted for a taxi for her neighbour, a wheelchair-bound patient – a $500 one-way trip to Rangiora, just 30 kilometres away.
All patients from Rangiora assessed by a paramedic and sent to the emergency department are eligible for a taxi home.
Canterbury District Health Board consumer council rural representative Joanne Gumbrell said the main problem was people not being aware of their rights, and that the service is not promoted by the CDHB or hospital staff.
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