Living with a disability in Blackpool

Healthwatch Blackpool undertook research on physical access to healthcare as they had heard from the public that some disabled people faced problems, including ack of reasonable adjustments within service provision, limited access to wheelchair-friendly transport options such as taxis, and difficulties in attending essential health screenings, such as mammograms, forcing people to travel unreasonable distances outside of area.  They collected data in a number of ways, engaging a total of 207 people.

Feedback on community healthcare was mixed. While positive feedback highlights the strengths of specific services like occupational health, local pharmacies, and specialist care teams, a significant amount of respondents expressed dissatisfaction. The main barriers were systematic issues such as lengthy waiting times, inaccessible facilities and transportation barriers, impacting their access to community healthcare. Communication gaps were also identified, including a lack of communication from services, or communication which was unsuitable and difficult to understand due to the use of medical terminology. 

Community activities in Blackpool were reported to offer significant social and physical benefits, particularly creating a sense of belonging and well-being for those living with a disability. While sport and social groups are popular, there is a lack of awareness of the activities on offer, stemming from inadequate signposting and information. Accessibility issues, including physical limitations, financial constraints, and transportation challenges, further impact individuals use of community activities. Some individuals suggested that an information hub would be beneficial, so those living with a disability have one single point of contact to find information on local community activities. Others suggested improved physical accessibility to community activities, as well as tailored activities catering to specific disabilities such as neurodiverse individuals and those who are visually impaired or deaf. A small number felt the provision of community activities specifically for young people living with a disability requires improvement.

Feedback regarding transport in Blackpool was also mixed, revealing issues with staff awareness and understanding of disabilities and accessibility challenges. While the accessibility of trams and the benefits of NoW card are appreciated, bus accessibility is compromised by physical limitations, restrictive pass times, and inconsistent audio information. Taxi availability and affordability pose significant barriers, especially for wheelchair users. Individuals report that transportation problems directly impact healthcare access, with unreliable schedules and vehicle limitations hindering attendance at medical appointments. 

Feedback from our mystery shopper transport exercise reflected some of these issues, with a distinct contrast between the experiences on Blackpool's public buses/trams, taxi, and Rideability services. While taxi and Rideability services were consistently praised for accessibility, driver helpfulness, and safety, experiences of buses and trams were mixed. Positive aspects, such as clear information and some helpful bus drivers were reported, however these experiences were inconsistent. Mystery shoppers echoed suggestions from other participants within surveys and focus groups, suggesting improved driver training regarding disability support, in particular ramp deployment and understanding hidden disabilities. Further improvements to physical accessibility, such as ramp sturdiness, availability of priority seating and addressing overcrowding were suggested by our mystery shoppers. 

To ensure a truly inclusive and equitable Blackpool, significant and coordinated improvements are essential across community healthcare, activities, and transport. Despite existing positive elements, a persistent pattern of accessibility barriers – including physical limitations, financial constraints, and information gaps – continues to negatively impact the lives of disabled residents. Therefore, prioritising and implementing recommendations based on the voices of residents is paramount.