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Flight delay left man with Parkinson's 'totally fatigued' | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A man with Parkinson's says he was left "totally fatigued" when he ran out of medication because his flight was delayed. | |
Parkinson's UK trustee David Allan was told his British Airways (BA) flight from Gatwick to Edinburgh on Friday would fly from Heathrow the next day. | Parkinson's UK trustee David Allan was told his British Airways (BA) flight from Gatwick to Edinburgh on Friday would fly from Heathrow the next day. |
The change meant his requirement for assistance was not transferred and the 57-year-old, who takes 27 tablets a day, was left short on his medication. | The change meant his requirement for assistance was not transferred and the 57-year-old, who takes 27 tablets a day, was left short on his medication. |
BA and the airports have apologised. | BA and the airports have apologised. |
Mr Allan, who is the Scotland trustee on the board of the charity, had been due to depart Gatwick at 21:25 BST but could not fly until 22:00 from Heathrow on Saturday. | Mr Allan, who is the Scotland trustee on the board of the charity, had been due to depart Gatwick at 21:25 BST but could not fly until 22:00 from Heathrow on Saturday. |
He contacted NHS 111, Crawley Hospital and a chemist but there were no supplies of his medication available. | He contacted NHS 111, Crawley Hospital and a chemist but there were no supplies of his medication available. |
'Ridiculous' | |
When he arrived at Heathrow, he was told the special assistance facility was fully booked and the airline had not transferred his requirements, so could not help him. | When he arrived at Heathrow, he was told the special assistance facility was fully booked and the airline had not transferred his requirements, so could not help him. |
Mr Allan said his medication starting to wear off and his mobility failed. | Mr Allan said his medication starting to wear off and his mobility failed. |
"I was struggling to put one foot in front of the other," he said. "I wasn't quite on my hands and knees but I was very near it. | |
"It seems ridiculous that in this modern, connected world there was no way I could access medication and that the airline and airports were so ill-equipped to help. | "It seems ridiculous that in this modern, connected world there was no way I could access medication and that the airline and airports were so ill-equipped to help. |
"I'll be taking extra supplies with me every time I travel in future." | "I'll be taking extra supplies with me every time I travel in future." |
BA said transportation and accommodation were provided to Mr Allan during the disruption and he was rebooked on to the next flight. | BA said transportation and accommodation were provided to Mr Allan during the disruption and he was rebooked on to the next flight. |
The airline also said assistance is provided by an airport-appointed third-party company and recommended customers carry enough medication to allow for any travel disruption. | The airline also said assistance is provided by an airport-appointed third-party company and recommended customers carry enough medication to allow for any travel disruption. |
Parkinson's UK said the treatment of Mr Allan, of Alloa, Clackmannanshire, was "shocking and unacceptable". | |
Update Wednesday 31 July 2019: An earlier version of this story stated Mr Allan was "left to crawl" through the airport. In a subsequent interview Mr Allan told the BBC: "I wasn't quite on my hands and knees but I was very near it". The story has been amended to reflect this. |
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