Multiple sclerosis patient spends night at Adelaide hospital waiting for an access taxi

ABC NEWS (Australia)

An Adelaide man with a chronic medical condition has spoken out about his forced night in a hospital emergency department because of a lack of appropriate transport home. Jesse Frick has multiple sclerosis and says there was no access taxis available to take him home, leaving him exhausted and frustrated with the system.

Transcript

00:02After spending Sunday at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Jess Frick was eager to go home.

00:08The singer-songwriter, who uses an electric wheelchair, booked a ride through access taxis at about 10 o'clock,

00:15but soon received a text to say there'd been a delay.

00:18Then I got another text message a few minutes later saying there's another delay,

00:22which happens from time to time, but I thought that's okay, I'll just wait inside.

00:26Nurses gave him a blanket and he was later taken to an emergency department cubicle.

00:31I called them again around 2ish and they said, yeah, unfortunately there are no drivers in Adelaide.

00:37The multiple sclerosis patient has since remained in hospital ahead of a scheduled surgery.

00:42He says Sunday night left him feeling frustrated and exhausted.

00:47The fatigue is just growing and growing.

00:49We say it just exacerbates all my other symptoms and it makes that really uncomfortable

00:55and you just wanted to get home.

00:57Access taxi drivers say it's a common experience.

01:01I think it's hard booking from the driver perspective.

01:04Very sorry to hear about Mr Frick's experience.

01:07We of course always want to see better service delivery for people who need it the most.

01:11In response to multiple complaints, the state government last year banned access taxi passengers

01:17from requesting specific drivers during dedicated hours.

01:20Now when they make a booking, it's the closest available taxi that's dispatched to them.

01:25The transport minister says that change has led to improvements.

01:29But Mr Frick says he can only hope he'll be able to get home after surgery.

01:33And hopefully after all this is done, when I get home there'll be a taxi waiting for me.

01:39I've got my fingers crossed but we'll see what happens with that.

01:43Access taxis decline to comment.

01:46やん

01:46Losar

01:46Masa

01:47Las

01:47Masa

Category

Transcript

Comments

Recommended