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Social Needs Integration
In 2003 the government’s Social Exclusion Unit published its ‘Making The Connections’ report, which explored the links between social exclusion and transport.
Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority is made up of councillors from the ten local authorities in the county and its executive arm, GMPTE, has been charged with identifying ways of making publicly funded transport more readily available for socially excluded people. With the support of all ten local council leaders, GMPTE are examining access to healthcare facilities, education sites, employment opportunities and food shopping facilities.
The links between transport and health issues are well established:
- In 2001, the Audit Commission identified in its ‘Going Places’ report that the overall cost to the public sector of special needs transport (including non-emergency patient transport) is some £900 million per year across the UK. GMPTE’s initial research indicates that the cost to Greater Manchester district authorities is around £45 million per year.
- The NHS has suffered for many years from clients missing appointments. This has resulted in additional pressure on health services, both in terms of the management of services and the cost implications. It is estimated that the cost of lost NHS appointments is some £300 million per year in England alone.
There are already projects underway to help address these issues. For example, the 14 Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in Greater Manchester are involved in major changes to way they provide their services - including the building of One Stop Centres and Primary Care Resource Centres. The intention is to make healthcare services and healthcare professionals much more accessible within local communities.
Healthcare professionals such as dentists, GPs, pharmacists, podiatrists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists will utilise the new centres. This will create a major impact on local public transport, primarily on the bus network. One solution will be to create a demand-responsive- transport (DRT) network enabling patients to access the new centres.
In late 2003, GMPTE and its partners started a pilot accessibility project in Manchester. The project supports existing ‘Ring and Ride’ services and makes additional resources available for people with mobility problems. The second phase of this project is now underway; offering improved computerised scheduling systems and additional people carrier vehicles.
Evaluation of the pilot projects is now being carried out, with GMPTE commissioning research to help identify areas for improvement in the design and operation of the schemes.
The political thrust to move social needs integrated transport forward has never been greater. Driven by the government’s social exclusion agenda, the need to rationalise public expenditure and target resources for people with the greatest need will make for a more efficient and effective use of public services.
The benefits to both the general public and to the public sector are immense. The challenge is to create a fully funded service, with the commitment and co-operation of all partners, which meets the needs of local communities.
Dated: 2 August 2004