A Nottinghamshire resident sometimes goes without food after paying for bus travel to early hospital appointments, councillors have been told.
The case was raised during a Nottinghamshire County Council meeting on Thursday 9 July as members backed calls to allow concessionary bus pass holders to travel free before 9.30am on weekdays.
Conservative councillors proposed asking East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward to remove the morning restriction.
Concessionary passes currently provide free local bus travel between 9.30am and 11pm on weekdays, as well as all day at weekends and on bank holidays.
Eligible elderly and disabled Nottinghamshire residents can also use NET trams free after 9.30am on weekdays and throughout weekends.
Cllr Andy Brown, who proposed the motion, said pass holders were unable to use free travel when they often needed it most.
He said: “Many residents rely on public transport to attend medical appointments, volunteer within their communities, support family members, access local services and maintain their independence.”
Cllr Brown said journeys to medical appointments or voluntary work should not be treated as optional trips.
He argued that removing the restriction could reduce isolation, help vulnerable residents remain independent and reduce road congestion.
Council leader Mick Barton supported the proposal but amended the motion.
He and deputy leader Dawn Justice will now write to the mayor to explore removing the restriction as part of wider discussions about discretionary travel across the East Midlands.
Cllr Barton said his position on the EMCCA board and as chairman of its transport committee could help move the proposal forward. Cllr Justice also sits on the combined authority board.
Labour councillor Helen Faccio told the meeting about a resident with several health conditions who holds a bus pass for medical reasons.
She said: “She often has hospital appointments early in the morning and she said she sometimes has to go without food that day if she has had to pay for her bus fare to get to hospital.
“This cannot be right in this day and age.”
Cllr Teresa Cullen, who represents Beeston Central and Rylands for the Broxtowe Alliance, said some residents in the Rylands area must travel towards Beeston town centre to reach a GP surgery.
She said councils should eventually consider free bus travel for all residents, adding: “I think we should go further.”
Conservative opposition leader Cllr Sam Smith said funding could come from the £2 billion previously allocated to EMCCA by the former Conservative government.
He claimed the combined authority had substantial reserves available and said the money should be used to support measures such as extending concessionary travel.
Labour councillor Penny Gowland supported the motion but said any scheme would have to be funded and balanced against other transport needs.
She said young people also needed affordable travel before 9.30am to reach work, education and training.
Cllr Gowland also warned that some bus services heavily used by concessionary pass holders were at risk because operators received less fare income from those routes.
Concessionary pass holder and campaigner Des Conway previously said removing the restriction would particularly help people with mobility problems attending early medical appointments.
He said free travel was also important for helping people remain active and socially connected.
EMCCA was approached for comment but had not responded at the time of publication.
Councillors from all parties unanimously supported the amended motion.
By Lauren Monaghan, Local Democracy Reporter