Is there an alternative way to attend hospital appointments

It has become increasing difficult to get my dear old dad to attend GP or hospitals but only over the last 4 months, Prior to this, he was very good thankfully. He was diagnosed just over 3yrs ago with ‘Alzheimer’s in dementia’ and he’s under the memory clinic. I’m still awaiting for his care assessment and my carers assessment to be carried out by the local authorities Adult Services but been informed it should be before the end of April, fingers crossed :crossed_fingers: Like the majority of Adult Services, they have very long wait lists. I should have sorted all of this out when he was first diagnose but sadly I didn’t and that’s on me.

His GP has been very good and happy to have phone appointments and bless them have sent in the district nurse team to take blood tests plus a paramedic to give him vitamin B12 injection. I can’t fault them.

Question is, can hospital appointments be carried out virtually, where possible, as in would he be entitled to that? Have seen in another post, that their loved one was given Personal Assistant hours by their social worker, however not sure what this is.

He does claim Attendance Allowance, LPAs all in place and he’s of pension age.

Any help and advice greatly appreciated.

Thank you :slightly_smiling_face:

Some of my wife’s appointments are on the phone rather than face to face. I think your best bet is to contact the secretaries for the consultants your dad is seeing and see what they can do to help.

According to the Local Government Ombudsman, Assessments should take no longer than 6 weeks from staert to finish!

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Many thanks and good to know.

Many thanks and wasn’t aware of that. I do chase them up and had an initial chat with them shortly after I had submitted the forms so whether that was the initial assessment not sure? Now waiting on a social worker to be assigned to us and to visit.

A Personal Assisstant is someone who comes into the Home to care for them for a few hours a week to give you a break, it can be someone who is appointed by the Local Authority, or you can choose someone you know and trust to be the PA, you are then classed as the Employer, and you pay them through Direct Payments provided by the Local Authority, but depending on your Financial Situation you may have to pay a small amout towards the PA’s wages, check out this link which explains it a bit better. Direct payments and managing your care | Sheffield City Council

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@hybrid1000 Many thanks for the information and good to know. I will investigate further with my local authority.