Following an earlier publication article we delve into one of the reasons why the elderly do not yet travel. The safe care transport protocol was drawn up by the taxi drivers' interest groups, but it seems that the patient organizations were not involved. Vulnerable elderly people and the chronically ill are concerned about combined transport due to the lack of clarity in the reporting.
confusion everywhere
The police reports make notification of traveling with people who do not come from the same family. According to the police, it is unwise and punishable to sit in a car with 3 people (or more) if you do not come from the same household. The standard is that you must be able to keep a distance of 1,5 meters, which is almost never possible in a passenger car. It can result in a fine of 390 euros. When two housemates travel together with a friend, these are still three people from different households. And you can therefore all three be fined.
valys is for travelers with reduced mobility who travel further than 25 km. Because the journeys are often combined and these travelers usually come and / or go from multiple addresses, transport over a long distance can take a long time. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the website of Valys refers, among other things, to the safe care transport protocol.
This is the protocol for care transport as drawn up by Royal Dutch Transport (KNV), the national association for entrepreneurs active in care and taxi transport, together with the trade unions FNV and CNV Vaknemers. Within this protocol the following is stated:
“If it is not possible to observe at least 1,5 meters in the vehicle, the driver uses a surgical mask and the traveler uses a non-medical mask. With regard to the maximum number of passengers to be transported, depending on the size of the vehicle, the following applies to the category of travelers from 18 years: passenger car: maximum 2 travelers bus: maximum 4 travelers For travelers up to and including 18 years, there is no maximum number of travelers per vehicle ” .
Another concern in the elderly is the long-term use of a mouth mask. The masks are also experienced as a disaster for many chronically ill people and wearing them is not always feasible on long journeys. In practice, many people remove the mouth cap just to 'normal'to breathe and / or wear it consciously or unconsciously.
A lot of understanding but little flexibility ...
Blogger Cornelis van The Zorgkrant indicates that employees of the booking center and the Valys helpdesk understand the concerns. They indicate that they are bound by the guidelines drawn up by their client, VWS. In this example they refer to VWS and the authors of the safe transport protocol for complaints.
This is not an option for an average care recipient and many people no longer dared to use health care transport. This has the consequence that many frail elderly and chronically ill people have to remain in isolation for longer and / or postpone hospital visits for longer.
Also read: Transport of the elderly and disabled is lagging behind
