First Bus teams up with Leeds hospitals to help mums-to-be make vital appointments

First Bus is partnering with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to support vulnerable women during pregnancy.  

The bus operator is providing free travel passes which maternity teams can provide to women, mainly from minority and disadvantaged communities attend important check-ups and other appointments. 

A review of records by the Trust estimates that 100 pregnant women every month struggle to make hospital appointments as they have no access to funding support or face other barriers to transport. 

The Haamla team, a dedicated group of midwives and maternity support workers in the Trust, provide care to vulnerable women who are faced with financial insecurity or do not qualify for income benefits.  

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.” 

First Bus is providing 100 Day tickets per month until March 2027 for midwives to distribute to women based on travel needs following a financial assessment which is carried out during their initial appointment with the maternity team.  

Mubarak Mahmed, Social Value Manager at First Bus, with Nada and Ebony, Midwives at the Trust

Zoe Hands, Managing Director of First Bus Franchising which includes the West Yorkshire region, 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.”  

The Trust will monitor use of the tickets and is able to track attendance at clinics to review the effect of the travel support and outcomes for expectant mothers.  

“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 to and from appointments,” added Nada. “This will make a real difference to mothers and babies.”