Transport concerns for NHS patients

HEALTHWATCH Oldham is urging users to speak out after it emerged Arriva Transport has missed performance targets every month since it took over the patient transport service last June.

The organisation has joined forces with eight other Healthwatch bodies across Greater Manchester to organise patient transport. It wants Oldham people to give their views on the service since April 1, 2013, to add weight to its voice.

Norma Bewley, chairwoman of Healthwatch Oldham, 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.”

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

To give your views, see the online survey at www.healthwatcholdham.co.uk/news/arriva-patient-transport-survey.