Views wanted on patient transport service

Healthwatch Rochdale

Local watchdogs want patient’s views on the patient transport service provided by Arriva Transport.

Healthwatch Rochdale has joined forces with eight other Greater Manchester Healthwatch bodies to take on the issue of patient transport.

Following patient feedback that raised concerns about the service since the NHS changed the access criteria in April of last year, and the latest news that Arriva transport has missed key performance targets every month since taking over the contract in June, all nine Greater Manchester Healthwatch organisations are undertaking a survey to collect local people’s views.

Dr Marian Corns of Healthwatch Rochdale said: “Healthwatch is here to support your rights and choices in accessing health and social care services, and to make sure that the patient voice reaches the ears of the decision makers.

We want your feedback on using patient transport services so that we can go directly to Arriva to ask them to improve services for local people”.

The organisations want to understand what patients’ experience has been of the service since 1st April 2013.

The findings will be used to make recommendations to the NHS and to Arriva to improve the service for local patients.

Arriva transport provides the non-emergency patient transport service operating in Greater Manchester and has come under fire for unacceptable waiting times, lack of transport, driver attitude or standards, lack of information and poor patient care.

Contract reporting however shows Arriva to be compliant with the NHS’ standards and requirements. Healthwatch intends to uncover why there is such a mismatch and why there has been such dissatisfaction from patients.

The deadline for the survey will be 28 February 2014.

You can request a copy of the survey by contacting Healthwatch Rochdale on 01706 249 575 or complete the survey online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/76VMR32