Transport Challenges Impacting Healthcare Access in Cumbria
Hundreds of patients across Cumbria have cancelled health appointments because transport difficulties prevented them from attending, according to a watchdog organisation.
Kate Rees, assistant head of service for Healthwatch in Cumbria and Lancashire, identified a lack of public transport options and inconvenient appointment scheduling as key factors contributing to this issue.
Long Bus Journeys for Short Distances
Fen Watson, a resident of Bowness-on-Solway, described her experience of having to undertake a "ridiculous" 50-mile round trip by bus to reach her GP surgery, which is only four miles away.
Watson, who no longer drives, explained that her GP practice is located in Kirkbride, four miles from her home village. However, the bus service connecting these locations only stops a few times daily and never at times that allow her to travel to and from her appointments conveniently.
As a result, she must take a bus to Carlisle first, then connect to Kirkbride, and then return to Carlisle again on the way home.
"I hadn't realised that what I'm doing is actually a 50-mile round trip, which seems ridiculous," she said.
Stagecoach Responds to Service Concerns
Tom Waterhouse, managing director of Stagecoach Cumbria and Lancashire, stated that the company’s timetables aim to achieve "the best balance we can" between the needs of different passengers.
He also noted that Stagecoach operates services specifically designed to facilitate access to medical facilities.
Healthwatch Report Highlights Transport Barriers
A report by Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness on transport to healthcare facilities revealed that out of 540 people who shared their experiences, 40% had cancelled appointments because they could not get there.
Kate Rees indicated that Healthwatch plans to conduct similar research in Cumberland, where Watson resides.
"People feel the bus services for example are not reliable enough to use them to get to an appointment," she said.
The report also raised concerns regarding NHS patient transport and the availability of accessible taxis for disabled individuals.
Recommendations from the report include increasing transport routes to health centres, expanding mobile medical services, and improving healthcare staff awareness of patients’ transport needs.
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