East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust are proposing to end their shuttle bus service connecting the Royal Blackburn Hospital, Burnley General and Pendle Community Hospital in Nelson.
This service is very popular with patients, staff and visitors. Its journey uses motorway connections down the M65, knocking hours off journey times between these three hospitals. Now our health service provider is proposing to end this valuable service at the end of March.
A demonstration organised by health service union UNISON, will be taking place at the roundabout outside the Royal Blackburn Hospital on Tuesday February 4th between 12.00pm and 1.30pm. There will also be one at Burnley General Hospital.
Ten years ago I found this shuttle service very helpful when my mother was in Pendle Community Hospital for a few months. Visiting her on public transport meant a bus from Blackburn to Burnley, usually in slow-moving traffic. Then there was always a wait for a bus to Nelson and a walk from its bus station. This process would then have to be gone through all over again after my visit. At today’s prices, it would probably cost me in the region of £15. Catching the train was even more expensive at the time and unreliable.
On one occasion the shuttle proved particularly helpful while visiting my mum in Nelson. During this visit, an emergency call came for me from the Royal Blackburn Hospital. They told me my dad had just been admitted following an accident. I was able to catch the shuttle bus, which picks up right outside Pendle Community Hospital. It took me to the Royal Blackburn Hospital, enabling me to visit my dad within the hour.
The proposal to end the shuttle service has taken many patients, staff and visitors by surprise. There has been no consultation with hospital unions or patients groups. The health authority says it is all down to money and they no longer wish to run the service. Due to their lack of consultation, alternatives have not had a chance to be looked at. One of these is bringing in fares for using the shuttle. No doubt various ideas, such as using other bus operators, could also be looked at to keep this much needed service running rather than just closing it down.