First Bus is partnering with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to support vulnerable women during pregnancy by providing free travel passes to help them reach vital medical appointments.
A review of records by the Trust estimates that around 100 pregnant women every month struggle to make hospital appointments due to financial insecurity, lack of benefit support, or other barriers to public transport.
To help address the issue, First Bus is providing 100 free Day tickets every month until March 2027. The passes will be distributed by the Haamla team – a dedicated group of midwives and maternity support workers who care for vulnerable women, particularly those from minority and disadvantaged communities.
Photograph by Richard Walker/ImageNorth
Nada Abdul-Majid, Specialist Midwife Health Equity at the Trust, said: “I’ve seen first-hand how women struggle to get to their hospital appointments if they don’t have enough money to use public transport.
“Our Haamla team carry out home visits to these vulnerable women however, it is important that families are able to travel to the hospital for scans, doctors’ appointments, labour and obstetric emergencies. We’re really grateful to First Bus for providing these tickets for women so they can receive maternity care without worrying about the cost of travel.”
The tickets will be allocated following a travel needs assessment during initial maternity visits. The Trust will monitor ticket usage and clinic attendance to track the positive impact on health outcomes for expectant mothers and their babies.
Zoe Hands, Managing Director of First Bus Franchising, said: “Supporting communities in the areas we serve means, where we can, being able to assist people in all stages of life. Nothing can be more important than helping to ensure the health and welfare of mothers-to-be and the benefits this will bring to their newborn children.
“We’re pleased to be working in partnership with the Trust and seeing the positive impact our travel support can make to the lives of vulnerable women in Leeds.”
