Cumbrian Patients Cancel Hundreds of Medical Appointments Over Transport Failures
A recent report by Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness reveals that 40% of 540 surveyed individuals cancelled medical appointments because they could not secure suitable transport. Kate Rees, Assistant Head of Service for Healthwatch in Cumbria and Lancashire, attributed the cancellations to unreliable public transport and impractical appointment timings.
Fen Watson, a resident of Bowness-on-Solway, recounted her 'ridiculous' 50-mile bus journey to a GP surgery merely four miles from her home in Kirkbride. Unable to drive, Ms Watson must travel to Carlisle and then take a connecting bus to Kirkbride, necessitating a return journey through Carlisle. This ten-and-a-half-hour round trip, for an appointment just four miles away, underscores the systemic failings.
Stagecoach Cumbria and Lancashire Managing Director Tom Waterhouse stated that timetables aim for the 'best balance' of passenger needs, adding that services specifically target medical facilities. However, Ms Watson and others contend that existing routes are often unsuitable for direct access to healthcare, forcing convoluted and time-consuming detours.
Healthwatch plans further research into transport accessibility in Ms Watson's area of Cumbria. The initial report recommended increased transport routes to health centres, the introduction of mobile medical services, and greater awareness among healthcare staff regarding patient transport needs. Concerns were also raised about NHS patient transport and the scarcity of accessible taxis for disabled individuals.
