WIREDGOV

The Patients Association welcomed yesterday's announcement (2 October, 2019) from NHS Chief Executive Simon Stevens, of a national review of patient transport, and we are committed to ensuring that patients’ voices are at the heart of the review.

The Patients Association recognises that the full picture of patient experience includes more than timely treatment, and access to medicines. Ensuring patients can reliably get safely to and from appointments is a key priority for patients.

CEO of the Patients Association, Rachel Power comments: “Patients’ experiences of healthcare don’t begin and end at the door of a hospital, so we can’t ignore the impact of availability, accessibility and cost of transport on patients.

The harsh reality is that despite many patients facing regular lengthy and difficult journeys, access to non-emergency transport appears to have dropped sharply in recent years.

The Patients Association welcomes this review and we look forward to working closely with the NHS, building on the excellent work by Healthwatch England, Age UK and Kidney Care UK, to ensure that patients’ voices are heard".

If you would like to share your experience of patient transport services - good or bad - then we are here to listen. Perhaps you have had non-emergency transport services provided by the NHS? Or maybe you find your own way to reach appointments using public transport? Do your healthcare needs mean you require extra assistance? Call our free helpline on 0800 345 7115 with your experiences and get your voice heard.