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HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY CARE

PATIENT & PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT FORUM

FAREHAM & GOSPORT PATIENT NETWORK

The Fareham & Gosport Network of the Hampshire Primary Care Patient & Public Involvement Forum would like to make the following points in response to the invitation from the Hampshire County Council Environment & Transport Policy Review Committee to contribute to its Scrutiny Review: Transport in the Community.

2. What could be done to achieve more effective use of passenger transport services in Hampshire ?

Access to Medical facilities

We would ask that the Committee considers the plight of the patients of Brook Lane Surgery, Sarisbury Green, in Fareham Borough, which also looks after patients from Warsash and Locks Heath. It is one of the two (out of 21) GP surgeries in Fareham & Gosport not to be on a bus route. Buses serving areas to the south, east and west travel (to Fareham and Southampton) by roads to either side, leaving the surgery isolated in the middle. The service along Bridge Road (A27) involves a change, and is in any case almost a quarter of a mile from the surgery itself. (A map is attached to show this)

The local voluntary community car transport group report that over the year July 06-June 07 requests for transport to this surgery numbered 154, about 27% of their total journeys made, and more than twice the number requested five years ago.

A similar, and even more severe, problem is that of the Sylvan Clinic, on the Cold East Hospital site nearby, which offers phlebotomy services and some diagnostic services for patients from the area. Although on a bus route, (Bridge Road, A.27) the nearest stop is almost half a mile from the Clinic (which is inside the large Cold East area.)

The number of requests for transport to this Clinic was 278, or nearly 50% of the transport group's total journeys. This is a fourfold increase on requests since 2003.

It seems a sad reflection on public transport policy that local NHS services should have to be reached by local people without the help of the public transport system. Representations about this have been made on several occasions, specifically in 2003 to the HCC Consultation on Hampshire Bus Strategy.

As far as the Cold East Hospital site is concerned, recent developments may be relevant to your considerations. At the time of the building there of Hawthorne Court, the HCC 80-bed Nursing Home, it was mentioned that parking space would be limited, "in order to encourage the use of public transport". The problems which affect the Sylvan Clinic are even more acute for The Hawthorne Court, as it is even further away from any public transport. Also, with the recent closure of Redclyffe House in Gosport, some of the patients there were moved to this and other facilities on the site. Surely it is time for a bus "loop", as exists for the Locks Heath Shopping Centre, to help people to reach these health services.

Disabled Public Transport

Train transport.

The train transport is very accessible, and the companies running the trains are very willing to assist disabled people and their carers. The disabled person must book at least two days in advance. The only drawback is should a party of wheelchairs users wish to travel at the same time, the companies would find this difficult as spaces for wheelchair users are limited.

Bus Transport.

The bus companies are working towards accessible buses, but even if the buses have ramps, the bus stops that can accept the ramps are extremely limited still. This further limits the choice of destination for wheelchair users, forcing wheelchair users to depend on private companies like Dial-a-Ride and taxis, unless they have their own vehicle..

Companies like Dial-a-Ride.

Wheelchair users must book in advance to use this service, and the vehicles go to regular places on regular dates and times. These companies work very well, unless one's trip is an emergency.

Taxis.

Most taxi companies have wheelchair accessible vehicles, and if not can direct one to a company which has.

All above forms of public transport are extremely useful, but have not reached full potential yet, (see buses above). Unfortunately, there is no way to provide public transport for those disabled whose disabilities are unstable, resulting in pain if jolted. These disabled people still need to depend on personal vehicles for transport.