Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Multi-hospital NHS Trusts: Transportation

09 March 2022 · 1 other contributor · 4,015 words

Opened by Caroline Ansell Con Eastbourne

Responding minister: Edward Argar

TransportNHS

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Caroline Ansell raised concerns about multi-hospital nhs trusts: transportation in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • The East Sussex Healthcare Trust faces challenges due to difficult travel between hospital sites, affecting over 74% of staff.
  • Patients relying on public transport may experience longer journey times, impacting access to healthcare services.
  • The Minister acknowledges the need for strong public and patient engagement in NHS service reconfigurations and highlights the importance of clinical evidence.

Key requests to Government

The MP asks the Minister to consider transport needs more prominently during consultations and reviews of criteria for patient transport support. She urges her hospital trust to revisit its 2019 survey and include the patient voice in future assessments. She also questions how upcoming improvement strategies will address access issues between hospitals. I urge the government to ensure that patient transport is given due consideration in reconfiguration plans and to work collaboratively with third-sector organisations like HEART to provide vital support for patients. I also request a meeting with NHS England's south-east region to discuss potential solutions, such as shuttle bus services, to address the gap in public transport.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Caroline Ansell Con Eastbourne

The East Sussex Healthcare Trust's journey between sites is challenging due to a single carriageway road and lack of direct public transport. Over 74% of staff report having to travel between hospital sites for work, highlighting the impact on patient access and clinical outcomes. Patients without cars face difficulties in accessing healthcare services, with missed appointments and additional stress reported by patients and their carers. I am concerned about the challenges faced by constituents in accessing healthcare services due to reconfigurations of NHS services. The East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust has proposed changes in ophthalmology and cardiology, affecting patient travel times and costs. Specifically, around 21% of patients who use public transport will experience longer journeys, while 8% of car users may also face increased travel time. Patients on low incomes with no access to a vehicle are particularly impacted, as taxi or private hire services can be prohibitively expensive.

Other contributors (1)
  • Sally-Ann Hart Con Eastbourne

    I am sure the Minister will join me in congratulating Caroline Ansell on her well-presented and organised argument. She asked the Minister to consider community volunteering work during the pandemic, particularly at HEART in Hastings, which took patients to hospital and required more resourcing.

Government Response

Edward Argar

The Minister acknowledges the importance of local legitimacy and confidence in NHS service reconfigurations. He notes that all reconfigurations must pass four government tests, including strong public and patient engagement and clinical evidence base support from commissioners. The minister highlights specific impacts on travel times for ophthalmology patients but also points out potential benefits like fewer appointments overall. Regarding the broader issue of patient transport, he outlines a £5 billion investment in buses and cycling over this Parliament and the upcoming publication of updated national eligibility criteria for NHS-funded patient transport services.

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