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Health travel put to the test

13/ 7/2006

A TEAM of 'mystery shoppers' will be testing out public transport to see just how easy it is to get to hospitals, surgeries and the proposed new health centres.

As our reporter Paneesha Chauhan did last month, the group - which includes 10 members of the Patients' Council and representatives from Rochdale Age Concern - will travel from their homes to hospitals, to see just how the proposed changes will affect locals.

They will also be travelling to existing GP's surgeries and planned new LIFT (Local Improvement Finance Trust) centres, which are to be built in the town centre as well as in Alkrington and Langley.

This is despite the fact that a site hasn't yet been agreed for the new Middleton 'joint service' centre, which is set to open in 2009.

To undertake their quest the team will be using a range of transport, including buses, taxis, cars and community-based transport. They will not just concentrate on time taken, but on safety and convenience.

Paul Mainwaring, chairman of the Patients' Council, said: "It became apparent very early on that transport was a key issue of the Healty Future proposals.

"People are understandably concerned about the impact the changes to health services will have on their ability to get to appointments by public transport."