Duo highlight difficulty in getting bus to hospital
TWO campaigners made a three-hour trek to highlight how difficult it is for women who may have breast cancer to travel by public transport for investigation.
Coun Angie Clarke and Diane Coffey, of Stockport Women’s Equality, met in Romiley to take the bus to Macclesfield hospital.
At present, if women require further investigation for potential breast cancer, they must make the journey to Macclesfield. They are hoping raise awareness of the issue in a campaign to get a direct bus link from Stepping Hill.
They set off at 8.50am and arrived at 11.40am, split between two buses, at a total cost of £10.50 for a return journey. They say a return taxi would cost £60.
Ms Coffey, 76, said the set up is based on the assumption that everybody has got a car.
She said: “There are women who can’t drive and they have to take public transport. We decided to see what was involved.
“And to go to Macclesfield you can apply for a nonemergency ambulance but there’s a long wait. You can claim back cash later but you still have to pay upfront.
“People without cars tend to be on low income, and some people may decide they’re not going to go.
“I have been aware of the problem for the past three years because I met somebody who was trying to find a lift to the hospital.
“What raised the issue is that radiology will no longer be offered at Stepping Hill - even if you went to Macclesfield and found something wrong. You can still get chemotherapy.”
She added that mobile screening is inconvenient for people who may be disabled, as they would be unable to scale the steps into the van.
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust declined to comment.