CANCER patients in Lanarkshire are missing out on free transport to and from hospital because the ambulance service is not referring them on, a charity has warned.

The Lanarkshire Cancer Care Trust (LCCT) said it has received only one patient referral to its volunteer driver service in the past two years since the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) took over control of patient transport requests. This compares to around five to 12 per day on average when referrals were handled by the Glasgow Beatson's Transport Desk - which has now been disbanded - or by patients' own consultants or nurses.

Brian Gray, secretary of the LCCT, said he was concerned that the lack of referrals meant seriously patients who did not qualify for ambulance transfer or have relatives available to drive them would be relying on public transport to travel to and from hospital for scans, radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

It comes after figures revealed that an average of 44 journeys by the Patient Transport Service (PTS) are cancelled by the ambulance service every day in Scotland due to rising demand and staff shortages. PTS journeys are used when patients need help getting to hospital for non-emergencies.

Mr Gray said: "A few years back when referrals were made by consultants, nursing staff and the Glasgow Beatson Transport Desk the referral procedure was consistent and smooth. However, the system changed and all requests for patient transport are now processed by SAS.

"To ensure and maintain continuity of the service we provide, LCCT's Board engaged in communication and dialogue with SAS. In spite of several meetings with them to explain our function, purpose and importance of our service, the Trust has had little or no referrals from SAS. There has to be cancer patients out there who do not meet the criteria set out by SAS and who would benefit greatly from our service."

Patients can self-refer by contacting LCCT on 01698 355137. However, the number of patients using the service has fallen from 450 a week to around 290 now.

Margaret Wragg, service manager for LCCT, said: "We had a meeting with SAS and we said 'we can take 30-35 patients off you a day'. It was a gentleman who was in charge then, and he said the answer's no - 'if they fit our criteria we are taking them'. We said 'but if we take them off you, then you've got those seats for other patients'. He said 'no, we don't work like that'. It was rather bewildering to be truthful."

Ms Wragg said they could provide a door-to-door return service for cancer patients as far afield as West Calder, Kilsyth and the Leadhills, but she was aware of cases such as one elderly lady who was travelling by train to and from the Beatson every day for radiotherapy because she did not qualify for ambulance transfer and had not been signposted to LCCT.

A SAS spokesman said: “Our patient transport service is vital for patients who are prevented from travelling to hospital appointments by other means because of their medical condition.

“Patients will only be referred to a different transport provider, such as a charitable organisation, if we are satisfied, following a patient needs assessment, that it is a safe and appropriate alternative based on the patient’s medical and mobility needs.

“In many cases, patients attending hospital for treatment will have side effects and require ambulance care on the return journey.

“In these circumstances, we believe it is in the best interests of patients to travel in one of our patient transport service vehicles accompanied by skilled ambulance care assistants.”