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Anger at woman's transfer ordeal Anger at woman's transfer ordeal
(19 minutes later)
A call has been made for more funding to be put into patient transport after the transfer of a 94-year-old woman between two hospitals took eight hours.A call has been made for more funding to be put into patient transport after the transfer of a 94-year-old woman between two hospitals took eight hours.
Violet Lunan was being transferred from Inverness to Golspie 50 miles away.Violet Lunan was being transferred from Inverness to Golspie 50 miles away.
Her family were angry she was left waiting on a ward in Raigmore hospital for five hours and then had a three-hour journey in a minibus. Her family was angry that she waited in Raigmore Hospital for five hours and then had a three hour journey in a minibus.
The Scottish Ambulance Service said it provided the type of transport requested by the hospital.The Scottish Ambulance Service said it provided the type of transport requested by the hospital.
An ambulance spokesman also said the patient pick-up was made within the specified timescale.An ambulance spokesman also said the patient pick-up was made within the specified timescale.
NHS Highland invited the family to get in touch so it could investigate their complaint. NHS Highland said Mrs Lunan had only been moved to the hospital's specially-staffed discharge lounge 35 minutes before she left Raigmore.
Discharge lounge
It invited the family to get in touch so it could investigate their complaint.
Mrs Lunan's daughter Mary Goulder said she had expected her mother, who had been treated for pneumonia and a fractured pelvis and elbow, to be taken in an ambulance to Lawson Memorial Hospital in Golspie.Mrs Lunan's daughter Mary Goulder said she had expected her mother, who had been treated for pneumonia and a fractured pelvis and elbow, to be taken in an ambulance to Lawson Memorial Hospital in Golspie.
Mrs Goulder said she had no complaint about the care her mother received in hospital.Mrs Goulder said she had no complaint about the care her mother received in hospital.
Trained staff She said she would be taking up the invitation to meet NHS Highland.
She questioned whether the ambulance service had the right priorities for its spending and whether it was not being given enough money by the government. "You're left with feeling about what might happen next time - not for my mother, but for any of us. I'm not 94, and I wouldn't want that," she added.
"Questions have to be asked," she said.
A NHS Highland spokeswoman said: "Our information is that a patient was kept on the ward until 3.45pm when they were taken to the discharge lounge and they were picked up by the patient transport vehicle at 4.20pm.A NHS Highland spokeswoman said: "Our information is that a patient was kept on the ward until 3.45pm when they were taken to the discharge lounge and they were picked up by the patient transport vehicle at 4.20pm.
"We really would like an opportunity to speak to the family to clear up any confusion and learn any lessons.""We really would like an opportunity to speak to the family to clear up any confusion and learn any lessons."