Public transport users disadvantaged accessing health services
Campaign for Better Transport is calling for better public transport links to help improve people’s access to health services as figures reveal it takes public transport passengers twice as long to reach their nearest hospital as car drivers.
Government figures reveal that two thirds (66 per cent) of people in England cannot reach their nearest hospital by public transport in under 30 minutes with the average minimum journey time in urban towns and cities around 40 minutes. In rural villages it’s almost double that at 71 minutes on average. Car drivers can access their nearest hospital in just 20 minutes on average.
The figures also reveal that only a third (34 per cent) of people can access their nearest hospital within 30 minutes by public transport, versus 88 per cent by car. 70 per cent can access their GP within 15 minutes by public transport versus 97 per cent by car. For 15 per cent of people who use public transport, it will take them over an hour to get to their nearest hospital.
Stephen Goss, from Campaign for Better Transport, said: “For people who do not have access to a car, public transport is vital in helping them get to GP surgeries and hospitals, but, as these figures show, far too many face long journeys to get to medical appointments and this can have a huge impact on their health and wellbeing.”
NHS trusts have a statutory duty to provide transport for patients who, for medical reasons, cannot use private or public transport, but there is no duty to coordinate transport services with local authorities or transport operators to ensure good access for other patients, visitors and staff.
With a more than a decade-long decline in local bus services across England, millions of people who rely on public transport are now facing real difficulties accessing medical care.
With missed appointments costing the NHS more than £216 million last year, Campaign for Better Transport is calling for more to be done to address the lack of transport access to hospitals and doctors’ surgeries.
Dr Goss added: “The Government must recognise the health impacts of poor public transport reducing access to medical care. We want to see better integration between health providers, local authorities and transport operators to ensure good, sustainable public transport options for patients, visitors and NHS staff.”
ENDS
For further information please contact the press office on 07984 773 468 (calls only no texts) or communications@bettertransport.org.uk.
Notes to Editors
- Read Campaign for Better Transport’s briefing, Better Transport for Better Health.
- Journey time figures from Journey Time Statistics: England 2019 (latest government figures available).
- Figures published by the Labour Party last week revealed bus numbers have halved since 2011.
- Campaign for Better Transport was founded as Transport 2000 on 6 February 1973. 2023 marks its 50th year of campaigning for all communities to have access to high quality, sustainable transport that meets their needs, improves quality of life and protects the environment. Campaign for Better Transport Charitable Trust is a registered charity (1101929) which operates in England and Wales.
