\n Healthwatch also said it found patients had been left in debt by having to fund their own way to appointments after being no longer eligible for free non-emergency transport. \u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n A spokesperson for the NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, which commissions non-emergency patient transport services in the area, said it provides 60,000 non-emergency transport journeys each month across Yorkshire.\n<\/p>\n
\n But they said it acknowledged that \u201cchanges to national eligibility criteria have had an impact on some people, particularly those in rural areas or where alternative transport is limited\u201d.\n<\/p>\n
\n Non-emergency patient transport is intended for people who cannot travel safely to appointments due to medical or mobility needs. It helps eligible people get to and from NHS funded care when they cannot travel safely by other means.\n<\/p>\n
\n The new eligibility criteria for non-emergency patient transport, set nationally by NHS England, was adopted by NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board last May.\n<\/p>\n
\n Healthwatch said the overarching principle of the national criteria is that \u201cmost people should travel to and from hospital independently by private or public transport, with the help of relatives or friends if necessary\u201d.\n<\/p>\n
\n With eligibility criteria tightened, some people who previously qualified for support are no longer eligible, the watchdog said.\n<\/p>\n
\n Healthwatch York and Healthwatch North Yorkshire heard from more than 200 people about the changes made by the NHS.\n<\/p>\n
\n The watchdog said people told it\u00a0they were not attending\u00a0“vital” medical appointments, were taking risks to drive when they\u00a0should not,\u00a0and were facing \u201csignificant costs\u201d\u00a0because\u00a0they are no longer eligible for NHS transport to hospital appointment. \u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cFor a largely rural region, where public transport can be limited or inconsistent, these changes raise important questions about fairness, access and health outcomes,\u201d Healthwatch said in its report.\n<\/p>\n
\n Healthwatch also said many respondents \u201cexplained that they\u00a0have lost their independence, feel like a\u00a0burden,\u00a0have experienced an increase in anxiety or are refusing treatment to enable them to drive to and from\u00a0appointments\u201d. \u201cOthers are risking their health and the health of others by driving against medical advice because they feel they have no\u00a0other\u00a0option.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n One person was quoted in the report who Healthwatch said \u201csummed up the frustration felt by many\u201d. The person, who was not named, said: \u201cI have used patient transport for 10 years since being unable to walk, and then it stopped. I don\u2019t know why. I am no better, probably worse, with my mobility. I am too old to bother fighting for it.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
Feedback is ‘deeply concerning’, says watchdog manager<\/p>\n
\n Si\u00e2n\u00a0Balsom,\u00a0Healthwatch York\u00a0manager, said the feedback it received was \u201cdeeply concerning\u201d.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cAt the centre of every\u00a0story\u00a0we\u2019ve\u00a0heard is a person who is seeing their world and\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0possible for them shrink,\u201d Ms Balsom said.\u00a0\u201cPeople are turning down hospital appointments for essential treatment\u00a0or\u00a0going into debt to get there.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cWe\u00a0appreciate\u00a0that the NHS is facing\u00a0significant\u00a0financial challenges.\u00a0But\u00a0making it impossible for some of the most vulnerable people to get to appointments\u00a0cannot be\u00a0the\u00a0solution.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cIn the longer term,\u00a0we\u00a0could\u00a0all end up\u00a0having to\u00a0pay more to fix the problems this creates.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n Recommended reading:\n<\/p>\n
\n Healthwatch made recommendations, including to review the eligibility criteria for non-urgent patient transport, to the NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, City of York Council and North Yorkshire Council.\n<\/p>\n
\n The NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board spokesperson said: “We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the Healthwatch report about access to non-emergency patient transport.\n<\/p>\n
\n “The service currently provides around 60,000\u00a0non-emergency transport journeys each month across Yorkshire as a whole.\n<\/p>\n
\n “We remain committed to ensuring it is fair to those who need it, whilst making sure it is used appropriately. It is an NHS-funded service, and it is right that we prioritise people whose medical needs mean they cannot travel safely by other means.\n<\/p>\n
\n “However, we do acknowledge that changes to national eligibility criteria have had an impact on some people, particularly those in rural areas or where alternative transport is limited.\n<\/p>\n
\n “It’s important we take time to look at this feedback in more detail and explore with the service provider (Yorkshire Ambulance Service) and partners what more we can do together to address any inconsistencies, improve communication, and ensure alternative support is available.”\n<\/p>\n
\n A City of York Council spokesperson said: \u201cCity of York Council is reviewing and considering the recommendations made in the report.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n North Yorkshire Council declined to comment.\n<\/p>\n
What do you think?<\/p>\n