My 50-mile bus trip to the doctor four miles away

Chris from Nailsea

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My 50-mile bus trip to the doctor four miles away

« on: June 07, 2026, 22:41:05 »

From the BBC^» British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

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My 50-mile bus trip to the doctor four miles away

Hundreds of patients in Cumbria have cancelled health appointments because transport issues prevented them getting there, according to a watchdog.

Kate Rees, assistant head of service for Healthwatch in Cumbria and Lancashire, said a lack of public transport and inconvenient appointment times contributed to the problem.

Fen Watson, from Bowness-on-Solway, said she had to take a "ridiculous" 50-mile round trip by bus to get to and from her GP surgery which is just four miles away as the timetable did not allow for her to get there and back by a shorter route.

Bus operator Stagecoach said its scheduling aimed to achieve the "best balance" possible between different passengers' needs.

Watson, who no longer drives, is registered with a GP practice in Kirkbride. The bus that runs there from her home village only stops at both places a few times a day and never at times that allow her to get there and back.

She therefore takes a bus to Carlisle and gets a connection to Kirkbride and must return to Carlisle again on the way home. Having set off at 07:30 BST ahead of an 11:30 appointment, she will return home at 18:00 - a total time of 10 hours and 30 minutes.

(BBC article continues)


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CyclingSid

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Re: My 50-mile bus trip to the doctor four miles away

« Reply #1 on: June 08, 2026, 06:24:32 »

As an ex-NHS employee I regret to say this doesn't only happen in Cumbria.

Recent examples in this household; an offer of a scan in Banbury at 10:00 on Sunday morning, virtually undoable from Reading by public transport, 09:00 appointment in Bracknell would be nicer if they allowed for the older persons bus pass.

The irony is that we live opposite the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading.


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grahame

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Re: My 50-mile bus trip to the doctor four miles away

« Reply #2 on: June 08, 2026, 08:31:42 »

Quote from: CyclingSid on June 08, 2026, 06:24:32

I am getting very used to public transport to hospital challenges ... Try 08:30 at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon from home in Melksham (phone chat got me 09:10 - home at 06:50, walk to station, 07:21 train to Swindon, walk to Fleming Way, bus to GW^» Hospital - arrival in good time. RUH^▸ in Bath isn't bad - 2 buses with a change at Bath bus station - still 90 minutes, and not possible until November because of roadworks; it will involve a walk across the city centre of Bath. In contrast, I have a catheter change when I get home later this week - one of the very few things (it seems) that can still be done at Melksham Hospital - five minute walk and (fun) this very personal thing likely to be done by someone I might know in the community!

I must add - though - that the treatment I have had from the NHS since they identified a significant issue that urgently needed attention in late March has been exemplary.


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CyclingSid

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Re: My 50-mile bus trip to the doctor four miles away

« Reply #3 on: June 08, 2026, 15:52:51 »

I wasn't meaning to critical of the clinical service, which is generally excellent.

The problem is mainly an administrative one. Also possibly compounded in the case of Reading with a wide range of options in Thames Valley, that you possibly don't have further west. I would guess the Banbury option is because the Oxford University Hospitals used to have one of the shortest waiting times for scans, presumably achieved by running services 12 hours a day 7 days a week at all their scanner sites. When we emailed them to say it wasn't really possible we were rang back within half an hour. After a discussion they said they would cancel the appointment (which stops the clock) and refer the request back to the consultant.


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grahame

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Re: My 50-mile bus trip to the doctor four miles away

« Reply #4 on: June 09, 2026, 08:38:00 »

Quote from: CyclingSid on June 08, 2026, 15:52:51

I wasn't meaning to critical of the clinical service, which is generally excellent.

Indeed - and you did NOT come across at all in that way. I just commented on the clinical element in my treatment as being so positive to contrast it with the organisational issues.


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