Venue: Council Chamber, Runcorn Town Hall. View directions
Contact: Lynn Derbyshire on 0151 471 7389 or e-mail michelle.simpson@halton.gov.uk
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Proposed bus charges for North Cheshire Hospital Trust A discussion will take place relating to the proposed bus charges for North Cheshire Hospital Trust. Minutes: The Board received a verbal
presentation from Catherine Beardshaw, Chief
Executive of Warrington and Haltons Hospitals NHS
Trust and Mr A Massey regarding the proposed charges to the shuttle bus service
between The Board was advised by Ms Beardshaw that the free hospital shuttle bus service for
patients and staff had been trialled for a period of nine months and as a
result in the increase in demand a new larger bus had been leased and had been
in operation for a year. However, due to
an increase in pressure on the service, at peak periods, staff had experienced
difficulties in gaining access to the bus between the two sites. The Board was further advised
that as part of the Trust’s financial plan, consideration had been given to
charging certain groups of people for this service. Patients and staff, children under 16 years
of age or any one else with a free bus pass would continue to receive a free
service, but all other categories of people would be asked to pay £2 per single
journey. In addition, it was reported
that the Trust had kept their promise made in 2006 in providing a free service between the
two sites to staff and patients. In response to the proposal to charge
visitors to use the hospital shuttle bus between Warrington and Halton
Hospitals, Members of the Board raised the following questions/comments:- ·
Members raised concern that a decision to charge
visitors on the hospital shuttle bus had been made by the Trust without any
consultation with them and clarity was sought on who had been consulted; In response, it was reported that
the Trust were not obliged to consult on issues outside the original promise i.e that patients and staff would receive the service free,
and it was merely a new approach. In addition it was suggested that a year ago,
during a one to one informal meeting with the Chief Executive of Halton Borough
Council the pressures on the service had been raised. Members in reply indicated that
the Chief Executive had stated that charges had not been raised or discussed at
the informal meeting, merely that it had been mentioned that the bus service
was experiencing capacity pressures. ·
It was emphasised that there had been an
understanding that visitors would travel free on the bus and to date this had
been the case. It was also emphasised
that Elected Members should have been consulted on this matter as they only
found out via a press article. It was
also highlighted that the bus was mainly for people who did not have access to
private transport and that there was no public transport available between the
two sites. · It was reported that information on the Trust’s website was misleading as it stated that there was a free bus for people visiting Warrington and Halton hospitals, and the new larger bus had been launched last year with full wheel chair and disabled access. ... view the full minutes text for item 13. |