Gyeonggi-do Launches 'Safe Hospital Companion Service' for Mobility-Impaired Single-Person Households

Gyeonggi Province will implement a hospital safe accompaniment service for single-person households and others with mobility difficulties.

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province will first launch the 'Safe Hospital Accompaniment Service for Single-Person Households' in five locations including Ansan City, targeting residents who have difficulty moving or going to the hospital alone due to illness.

This project is a pledge by Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong-yeon. Regardless of age or income, anyone can apply, and qualified professionals such as care workers will visit to provide accompaniment from departure to return home, assist with hospital registration and payment, and accompany during medical consultations.

Even if not a single-person household, elderly couples with mobility difficulties or single-parent families caring for young children can apply if they need hospital accompaniment.

Users only need to pay a usage fee of 5,000 KRW per hour, about one-quarter of private services. Transportation such as vehicles is not provided, and taxi or bus fares are the user's responsibility.

Service hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Depending on hospital appointment times, service before 9 a.m. is also possible.

The province will start the service in Ansan, Gwangmyeong, Gunpo, and Pocheon from March and expand to Seongnam in the second half of the year. Those wishing to use the service can call the respective city or county offices.

Ji Joo-yeon, Director of the Women's and Family Bureau of the province, said, "The Safe Hospital Accompaniment Service for Single-Person Households can also be used when children find it difficult to take their parents who live alone to the hospital," adding, "Please trust and use Gyeonggi Province. There is a reliable Gyeonggi Province for single-person households."

Meanwhile, the province has established the '1st Gyeonggi Province Five-Year Basic Plan for Supporting Single-Person Households (2023?2027)' to systematically support single-person households in the province from a mid- to long-term perspective, promoting 37 tasks including the 'Safe Hospital Accompaniment Service.'

This basic plan is the first mid- to long-term policy plan for single-person households prepared by Gyeonggi Province in accordance with the 'Ordinance on the Promotion and Support of Social Affinity for Single-Person Households in Gyeonggi Province.'

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.