Travelling

[Lippy42]

Our appointment is at 9am travelling from warrington to QE birmingham

Would you travel night before and get a b&b or just set off really early ? If anyone did the B&B can you recommend one please

TIA

[Richard-Allen]

You may be able to pay for accomadation at the Nuffield House "Relatives' Wing".

The Relatives' Wing is a 16-bed unit in Nuffield House, directly opposite the old Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

The unit is set up to offer relatives of inpatients close accommodation whilst their family members are receiving treatment: tya.uhb.nhs.uk/relatives-wi...

However, there are plenty of hotels and B&B's in the area. If you ring, the number or email the address and number on the above link, the staff will be able to advise you what are the alternative places nearby.

Also on the QE's website there is a page that might be helpful "Liver transplant assessment questions and answers: tya.uhb.nhs.uk/liver-transp...

Hope this helps and good luck.

Richard

[Kristian]

Hi Lippy, thats a journey I have the same issues with. I live in Eccles so just down the other end of the M62 from you, lol.

The best advice I can give to you is to drive to Penkridge and go on the train from there. I'm guessing this is the first station within the West Midlands Transport Zone as even the peak time fairs are much cheaper than anywhere further north. The current price is £11.50 for an anytime day return from there to University Station, which is the one for the hospital.

Going from Penkridge has two benefits, firstly on cost, as set out above, and secondly you dont have to get up at quite so stupid o'clock in the morning. There's a train at Penkridge at 07.47 that gets you into University Station at 08.55. Its a 5-10 minute walk from there to outpatients, lol. (But you can now jump on one of them electric scooters from the Station, which is great fun and means the journey is about 2 minutes, lol). If you dont want to cut the timing that fine then there's a train from Penkridge 30 mins earlier, at 07.18, that gets you in for 08.22. I've caught that one quite a few times.

Driving from Warrington to Penkridge is probably about an hour or so. But its an easy journey with minimal congestion now. Certainly better than driving all the way to Birmingham. Just allow a bit of time to park up and get your ticket. There's a very small car park at the front of the station and much larger car park on the opposite side of the tracks. The one at the front fills quickly so just allow time to get round the back if needed.

If you dont want to drive all the way to Penkridge, you can get on that same train from Hartford in Cheshire. It leaves Hartford at 06.37 but costs £60 for the return at that time in the morning. You can get that same train from Runcorn or Liverpool South Parkway too depending where you are in Warrington. Still much cheaper, quicker and better timed than any of the other west coast mainline alternatives.

The drive to Penkridge and train from there would be my recommended option for a 9am appointment.

If you eventually start getting later appointments then getting the train from Hartford or even Acton Bridge become more attractive options. I went from Acton Bridge on Thursday for £31 return as a walk on ticket for a train after 9 am. The same ticket from Warrington or Manchester on the other West Coast mainline services was £99 return as you are still caught in their peak time fare structure even at that time in the morning.

There is an additional couple of benefits travelling via Runcorn, Acton Bridge, Hartford or Penkridge too. The trains are run by West Midlands trains and I find they are roomier, generally quieter and less crowded and you get good free WiFi 😊.

[Lippy42 in reply to Kristian]

Thanks we got a lot to think about hope your doing well 🥰

[Kristian in reply to Lippy42]

Hi Lippy, yep 5 years on from transplant and doing great 👍 😊.

[Lippy42 in reply to Kristian]

That's great to hear hope I can say the same about ste in 5 years 🤞🥰 take care x

[Kristian in reply to Lippy42]

Whatever happens you are in great hands at the QE and he'll have the best chance possible. 👍

[Aotea2012 in reply to Kristian]

That’s a good idea. I often meet up with family at Penkridge. The Littleton Arms is good value for food and rooms normally. Both of which are very nice. So if you wanted to break up the journey you could drive to there, park in their car park, pop into Birmingham and stay at the Littleton overnight. Much cheaper than staying in Birmingham which can be expensive.

[Readlots]

I’m so pleased to hear you’ve got this referral. It sounds like your in excellent hands 😊