Elderly Bexhill hypnotherapist misses two hospital appointments after transport issues

Selena Hart-Lubanov, of Albert Road, needs specialist transport to get around because of her fractured back, sore knee and dodgy hip.

The 86-year-old mother-of-two could not get to important appointments on Tuesday (May 24) or Wednesday (May 25) because every time she tried to book the transport, she was put on hold for 20 minutes before it cut off.

Coperforma took over the patient transport service from South East Coast Ambulance Service last month and Mrs Hart-Lubanov is one of thousands across the country to be left annoyed by them.

“It’s been very frustrating, in fact it’s been like that since they [Coperforma] took it over, I haven’t been able to get to the hospital,” she said.

“And I don’t know why, because as far as I know, they took over everything the NHS had, the transport and the people, so why they can’t do it I don’t know.

“It’s obviously just bad organisation.”

Mrs Hart-Lubanov is one of hundreds of patients across Sussex who have faced long delays and cancelled operations after patient transport turned up late and even failed to arrive.

On April 1, Coperforma took over running the service from the ambulance service.

Since then Coperforma has apologised to all those affected, with chief executive officer Michael Clayton saying it had been ‘unacceptable’.

But that is no use to Selena. The painter and former clairvoyant now has to wait until July to reschedule one of the appointments and the brace she was due to receive for her knee is still at the hospital.

“It’s more than frustrating it’s dangerous really,” she said.

“I’m sure there are great many other people who need to see someone but can’t get there any other way [than the non-emergency transport service].”

The ex-Londoner who moved to Bexhill after becoming too unwell to look after herself on her own, has such a dodgy hip that can dislocate at any moment, despite five replacements.

So Selena cannot use taxis and relies on the hospital transport to get to her much-needed appointments.

“It seems like I have to fight now for everything I need and it’s very exhausting,” she said.

“Nobody seems to be aware of people’s feelings anymore, I don’t understand.”

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