Councillors plan to call a summit of other councils and health organisations amid concern that transport troubles are hampering access to hospitals.

A motion – a statement of intent – was brought forward at Stratford-on-Avon District Council in response to increased parking and access difficulties at NHS hospitals in Warwick and Stratford while building work takes place. 

The district's cabinet – the panel of Liberal Democrat councillors in charge of major service areas – considered a report this week that suggested relevant partners should be convened to assess and discuss wider transport and accessibility provision around medical appointments and the impact that any limitations are having on appointment attendance.

The plan is to bring together Warwickshire County Council as the transport authority, South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, the region's health service commissioners Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board, West Midlands Ambulance Service, Warwick District Council, Rugby Borough Council and VASA, whose services include community transport to medical appointments delivered by voluntary drivers.

The aims of the summit are to look at what transport options are available to residents, understand the impact of missed or late attendance at appointments due to transport, look at the best ways to promote transport options and look into solutions for areas where there are gaps, particularly in rural locations.

Portfolio holder for housing and customer services Cllr Liz Coles said: "We are planning to create a summit of these partners to discuss what is possible and what we can do.

"We are also working closely with the voluntary sector, specifically with VASA who have been very helpful in formulating our thinking on this.

"It is an issue, particularly because of the rurality of the district, and I think there is certainly some very exciting work we can do here."

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Leader Cllr Susan Juned saw it as an opportunity to prepare for the responsibilities set to be put upon any new unitary council from 2028 as part of local government reorganisation.

"At the moment the district council is not responsible for transport but I think we have to start preparing for the days when we will, or a unitary council will, be responsible for transport as well as health, adult social care and other things," she said.

Cllr Coles concurred and the cabinet agreed without dissent to support the motion. It will now go to next week's meeting of all councillors to finalise it as a statement of the district's intent.