A report, commissioned by Humber and North Yorkshire VCSE Collaborative, has been published to support a greater understanding of community transport provision across Humber and North Yorkshire.
Humber and Wolds Rural Action, Hambleton Community Action and East Yorkshire Community Transport, who provide community transport services, produced the report which highlights what services are being delivered, the capacity and demand on these services, and the opportunities for future growth and connectivity.
A key pressure highlighted in the report refers to previous changes in the prioritisation of criteria for patient transport. This has resulted in a notable increase in demand for community transport by patients who struggle to attend medical appointments due to lack of transport. Any changes in criteria for transport has an impact on community transport organisations, who people turn to for support.
As of 1 April 2025, there will be further changes to the national NHS England criteria to achieve a consistent approach. Due to this piece of work to map community transport across Humber and North Yorkshire, organisations will work alongside health colleagues to fully understand the impact.
Whilst all community transport groups are doing their best to meet demand, in some cases demand outstrips resource and there is a danger that people are turned away.
As well as raising awareness of the pressures faced by Community Transport providers, the report also highlights the wider benefits services can provide for individuals and communities, stating:
“There are without doubt added health benefits associated with the use of community transport (CT) for passengers, providing opportunities to interact socially and reducing social isolation.
“These wider benefits are linked to health by preventing ill health, reducing social isolation, promoting independent living, and keeping people active, all contributing to keeping them out of hospital and better able to reduce their demands for health services.”
As part of the report findings, a series of recommendations have been published which focus on integrated models of working, funding and sustainability, appointment scheduling, improving data collection, planning, communications between sectors, and partnership working across Humber and North Yorkshire.
The report is being shared across our Health and Care system, with health and Local Authority leaders as well as with community transport organisations in our region, and it is intended to provide a platform to build from and enable collaboration across sectors.
Click here to download the report. If you have any questions about the report, please contact the VCSE Collaborative Team by emailing hnyicb.vcseteam@nhs.net.