Laugh for cancer transport …

[Janet]

Cancer patients have a problem – one that they should not have in addition to the battle they are already waging within their own body. The fight is transport, what should be a sheer simple issue of getting to hospital to get treatment. The position isn't helped by the fact that until the southern hospital at El Mojón is opened in ... well, whenever it finally opens ... cancer patients have to go north for their treatment. Some chemotherapy programmes require them to go daily, over weeks. It is exhausting for patients and their family and friends, and the expense is often beyond their means.

Transport used to be provided by the health service, Sanidad, but it was pulled because of lack of resources. At that point, the Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (AECC) took up the burden, but after a year found that the society, too, could not afford to fulfil the demand. Now, however, the demand cannot be ignored, and with no official funds, transport needs to be available to fill the gap between now and whenever El Mojón's day oncology unit opens.

Yesterday, the AECC presented the project KM Solidario Tenerife Sur, an attempt to restore transport. The presentation was attended by Juan Julio Fernández, president of the AECC's Tenerife province board; Dácil de Martín Cuff, KM Solidario Tenerife Sur project leader; comic actress Marta González de Vega; and Carlos Siverio of Biko Events. The project started last November, and in January a new bus was provided by Archiauto, but such is the demand that one bus is not sufficient, and there is a waiting list.

No civilized society should have a waiting list just for transport to get to cancer treatment. AECC is therefore holding an event, Échate una risa, in the Auditorio Infanta Leonor next Thursday, 13 February. It's one of several events planned in south Tenerife to raise funds for at least one other bus. Next Thursday's comedy show, poster above, will obviously be in Spanish, and I know that humour in a foreign language is among the hardest things to understand ... but if we can't laugh at cancer, let's at least try to laugh for cancer transport. The show starts at 8.30 and tickets cost €10 – they can be bought from the auditorium's café and Papelería Raquel in El Camisón. JA

[Michael]

Mini buses are definitely not the preferred method of travel when you're not well. Rock hard suspension and uncomfortable seats. Thus sayeth SWMBO. 

We have much the same situation here although it may vary from region to region.

There is no transport to get chemo patients to Belfast City Hospital. I take Chandra. Mind you, when I see the number of patients in the unit, I can understand why. It would cost a bloody fortune. At least there is a railway stop at the hospital and a charity organises volunteers to take patients who have no other way to get there. Also if someone is on certain benefits, you can claim transport costs back at the hospital.

Bangor to Belfast and back uses about £6 and we do it twice a week. We're lucky though. There are people there who must come a lot further than us. And if you're treatment is 5 days a week and you don't qualify to claim it back? Wow! That's big bucks. 

[Guanche]

This is of no help, but in France they have 'medical taxis' Normal taxi's that are used by the French NHS for transport as and when needed. My nephew and his father both have cancer. Thankfully the nephews is in remision but sadly not so for the father. They had chemo and both had to go to Paris about 450k round trip. They got a taxi each time paid for by the NHS.

[Janet]

Vive la République! ...   

The thing in Tenerife is that private hospital business interests ... fat cat bastards with no concern for anyone or anything beyond their own economic interests ... have prevented for thirty years the development of a local hospital needed because of a lack of integrated public transport ...

These are "peasants" being allowed to die because they're worth nothing ...

That is what sticks in my craw ...

[Guanche]

The thing is Janet that there are thousands of peasants who will defend the 'Fat Cats' I could point to many injustices I have seen here where there has been an outpouring of denial by people standing behind the 'bastards' protesting against whatever they have been accused of or been found guilty of. Is it a Spanish thing?