Calls for the ‘York hospital bus’ to start serving the hospital again
Since January, the hospital bus service has not stopped at York Hospital.
Instead it turns north out of Crichton Bridge, stops by the Wigginton Road Car Park to drop off passengers, then returns to Rawcliffe Park and Ride.
The service had been diverted due to delays on Wigginton Road, caused by queues for the Hospital Car Park.
These delays have seen the round trip time from the Park and Ride to the hospital increase from 40 minutes to 90 minutes.
The diversion has continued as building works on the hospital site have prevented the service turning around at the terminus.
After residents raised concerns about the change, councillors have urged the hospital to look for a solution that would enable the bus to drop passengers off closer to the building, and work with bus company First to ensure any changes are clearly communicated to passengers.
Lib Dem Councillor for Rawcliffe and Clifton Without Darryl Smalley said: “Responses to our recent bus survey across Rawcliffe and Clifton Without have highlighted problems being caused by this diversion, which leaves passengers with a half mile walk to the hospital.
“Given that the bus is intended to serve staff, patients and visitors, some of whom will be older or ill – this is causing huge problems. We are looking to meet with representatives of the Hospital to ensure resident concerns are heard and appropriate changes are made as quickly as possible.
“Residents are also not being told clearly that the bus is diverted, and so are surprised when it doesn’t go to the hospital, and are unsure where they should go to get the bus for their return journey.”
Lib Dem Councillor Sam Waudby added: “We’ve had hundreds of conversations about bus services locally, and the Hospital Bus, whilst greatly appreciated, comes up again and again.
“Whilst we understand the reasoning behind the diversion, the bus really does need to go to the hospital, even if that results in delayed journeys. The alternative is that even more residents will be compelled to drive to the hospital, if they are unable to manage the walk from Wigginton Road Car Park.
“We’re also asking First Bus to make it clearer to passengers that a diversion is in place, where they should go for their return journey and how long this diversion will remain in place.
“Issues with access to and from the York Hospital Car Park, which is full early in the day, also need to be addressed by the Hospital Trust – with improved information to encourage residents to use alternative means of travel instead of waiting in queues for a space in the car park.”
YorkMix has asked for a comment from First York and York Hospital and will update when we hear back.