Transport User Voice February 2025 – Travelling to NHS locations

31 January 2025

Supporting net zero goals 

We’ve all had to visit our GP surgery or the hospital for regular appointments, but have you stopped to think about the best way to get there?  

Do we all use the same mode of transport, and what influences our choice? Is it convenience, cost, or something else entirely? More importantly, is there a better way to make these trips? The NHS has been speaking to patients about how they travel to appointments and increasing the awareness of different travel options.

Transport Focus asked an online panel of more than 3,000 transport users who made a journey to their GP and/or hospital over the last 12 months, whether as a patient or a visitor, to tell us about their experience.  

What’s the most popular choice of travel for hospital appointments? Unsurprisingly, the convenience of a car means it is still the most common way people get to hospital appointments. 34 per cent of respondents drive themselves with 16 per cent being driven by someone else. However, 32 per cent still choose to take the bus, and 13 per cent use trains, tubes, or trams. 

Travelling to GP visits looks a little different. Since GP surgeries are more local, walking or wheeling are the most popular choices at 63 per cent with one patient saying: “Walking is better and healthier for me and environment. My local surgery is within easy reach – only one to two miles – so convenient and quick. It’s as quick as driving then finding a parking space.”  

38 per cent of respondents still drive to their GP, and 14 per cent rely on being driven. 

What’s stopping more people from choosing greener options like public transport or walking?  The answer is simple – convenience. Most people will pick the quickest and easiest option for their needs. Nearly half of those who drive to hospital appointments said they could see themselves switching to the bus if the conditions were right. Things like reduced fares, more frequent bus services, and reliability could make all the difference.  

What are patients saying? Patients feel that challenges to switching to or using public transport such as connectivity and route options. There is however real potential for change providing the infrastructure supports it:  

“I would prefer not to have to drive, but travelling by public transport would involve either several changes or longish walks…” 

Parking is a major concern for those driving to hospitals for convenience, with issues around both availability and cost. However, despite the openness to greener travel, there are still some barriers. Those who do use public transport often face frustrations with bus frequency and reliability. For many people, the convenience of driving outweighs the stress of navigating public transport, especially when dealing with hospital visits. 

“You can make sure you get there in time for your appointment [by car], without unnecessary waiting around, or stress that you might not get there in time.” 

For the NHS, patients feedback that the way they travel to healthcare appointments matters. The drive to reduce impacts on the environment relies on a shift towards greener travel. Increasing convenience in the form of better public transport services, reduced fares, and reliable route options, could see more patients leaving the car at home. It’s clear that patients are willing to make the switch to using public transport, but they need the right support to do so.

Back to newsletter

Like what you read? Please click below to share on social media.