Over an hour of travel and several transfers to receive radiotherapy: the odyssey from Ciudad Lineal to Ramón y Cajal
Residents of Ciudad Lineal face long commutes with multiple transfers to access essential healthcare services at Ramón y Cajal hospital, highlighting a failure in public transportation commitments.
In Ciudad Lineal, Madrid, residents must endure journeys exceeding an hour with multiple transfers to reach the Ramón y Cajal hospital for vital radiotherapy sessions. This lack of direct public transportation significantly affects patients, particularly those with serious health conditions such as cancer. One local resident, Susana, who is undergoing treatment for cervical cancer, has shared her painful experiences navigating the public transport system to receive her necessary 72 sessions of radiotherapy.
Despite promises made during electoral campaigns by local officials, including the Mayor Almeida, to provide a direct bus service from Ciudad Lineal to the hospital, no formal requests have been submitted to the transport consortium by the governing party. This inaction raises concerns about the local government's commitment to delivering necessary healthcare access to citizens, especially those in vulnerable situations. Susana's story is not an isolated one, as many other residents share her frustration over the inconsistent and inadequate public transport options available.
The implications of this transportation gap are significant, as they not only complicate the logistics of accessing medical care but can also negatively impact patients' health outcomes. Long travel times and complicated routes may discourage others from seeking necessary treatments, emphasizing the crucial need for efficient public transport solutions that can improve the quality of life for residents of Ciudad Lineal.