A free transport service between the Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital, Burnley General Teaching Hospital and Pendle Community Hospital for staff, patients and visitors will cease operation from 31 March. The service is funded by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust and operated by Holmeswood. The Trust says it can no longer afford to operate the route, which it says costs £780,000 per year and is free for anyone to use at any point. The bus was started as an interim initiative for five years in 2007,
and the Trust reports that its most recent passenger survey showed some journeys had fewer than five passengers on board.
Chief Executive at East Lancashire Hospitals Martin Hodgson said: “This decision has not been reached lightly or without significant consideration about the impact on patients, visitors and colleagues, but the Trust’s financial position is extremely challenging and our spending decisions remain under additional scrutiny nationally from NHS England. Continuing the shuttle bus would cost ELHT £780,000 in 2025-26, with a minimum contractual commitment of a further three years, which we simply do not have.
“I know passengers value the shuttle bus services and I am sorry that this decision will impact them but we will do everything we can to help them to manage this change. This includes reimbursing patients who meet eligibility criteria for free bus fares and I would encourage anyone who finds themselves unable to attend an appointment to get in touch to see how we can help.” The Trust says it undertook an informal survey, to which 248 people responded, with 241 confirming they had used the shuttle bus in the past year, including 172 members of staff, 35 patients, 30 visitors or friends and a number of ‘others’ who appeared to be using the bus, which is open to the public, without any connection to the Trust or its services.
