Residents of Driffield are being forced to travel to Bridlington for routine NHS blood tests, sparking concerns over accessibility for those without their own transport.
Residents in the East Riding town of Driffield are facing significant challenges in accessing routine NHS blood tests, with many being forced to travel to neighbouring Bridlington to receive care.
The situation has raised concerns about accessibility and the impact on vulnerable members of the community who rely on public transport. Local Councillor Mark Blakeston has highlighted the difficulties faced by those who do not drive, noting that poor transport links between Driffield and Bridlington Hospital are leading some patients to skip their tests entirely.
Councillor Blakeston pointed out that the current bus services do not drop passengers directly at the hospital in Bridlington, leaving those with mobility issues unable to complete the journey on foot.
Speaking about the situation, Councillor Mark Blakeston said:
"I think sometimes the NHS shoots itself in the foot because for example, I can't get a blood test in Driffield. I've got to go to Bridlington to get a blood test.
Now, I'm able and I drive, but I know through my men in sheds charity in Driffield, there's some men there that don't drive and have just said, I'm not bothered, I'm not going to do it, I can't get a bus from Driffield that drops me off at Bridlington Hospital and I can't walk from the bus stop up to the hospital.
I understand the reasons why secondary blood tests can't be done at the doctor's practice in Driffield financially and so on, but then that has that knock-on effect, doesn't it, which impacts on transport and impacts on people accessing services."
In response to the concerns, health officials have acknowledged the problem and stated that efforts are underway to resolve the local provision of blood testing.
Simon Cox, the NHS East Riding of Yorkshire Place Director, confirmed that the health service is aware of the specific challenges in Driffield. He explained that the structure of general practice contracts means some services are voluntary for local surgeries to provide.
However, health leaders are keen to increase local healthcare provision to reduce the reliance on hospital transport and improve patient access across the region.
Addressing the concerns, Simon Cox said:
"I'm aware of the specific issue in Driffield and we are seeking to address that. I think as far as I can see, there's no medical reason why people couldn't have that blood test done at the surgery. So I think that's one that we need to work with the practice around.
One of the issues about general practice is some of the contractual mechanisms we have around things like enhanced services are voluntary ones that practices can opt in and opt out of.
One of our aims is to provide as much locally as possible. One of the things that we've done in Driffield for example is we've done more work around frailty and using the hospital and trying to do things like the respiratory clinic there. So, we need to do more of that and that is again one of the ways in which we will reduce the need to use hospital transport by having more things locally."
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