FREE travel for the elderly to get to hospital is needed, according to a travel watchdog which deals with transport issues around the capital.

London TravelWatch says it wants London Freedom Passes to be extended to north Kent so pensioners can access Darent Valley Hospital more easily.

Freedom Passes allow free travel on most public transport for London's over-60s after 9.30am Monday to Friday, and all day at weekends.

But the watchdog says it would like to see councils offer free travel to hospital for north Kent residents and Dartford and Gravesend should be included in the Freedom Pass scheme.

It also points out many Bexley residents use the hospital but cannot use their pass to get there.

The watchdog's calls come at the end of an NHS public consultation about how London's healthcare services can be developed and improved in the next 10 years.

It says the NHS must consider how patients, staff and visitors travel to and from hospitals and health centres.

Watchdog chairman Brian Cooke said: "There are far too many examples where health facilities have been situated nowhere near decent transport links, with the expectation the transport providers will somehow supply services to them.

"This is simply not good enough."

He added: "Accessibility must be considered as part and parcel of planning health facilities, not after the key decisions on location have already been made.

"We would welcome a decision to allow the Freedom Pass to extend to the hospital for Bexley residents, and would want everyone who uses the hospital to get free travel too.

"But this should have been considered beforehand."

However, a spokesman for the hospital said transport links to Darent Valley are more than good enough.

He said: "The hospital is very well served.

"We are right next door to Bluewater shopping centre, which is really well linked through the Fastrack bus service.

"There are very good public transport links straight from Dartford station and there is more than enough space for cars at the hospital's car parks as well."

A Dartford Council spokesman said: "It's important to remember anyone who is over 60 can get a free bus pass through the Government's Travel and Concessions scheme.

"But, unlike the Freedom Pass, this does not extend to other forms of transport such as trains."

Gravesham Council declined to comment.