Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus

[giveusaB]

Hospital shuttle bus to continue. This will be commercial service with a charge in place for passengers and run independently and without subsidy from the hospital trust.

Full article:

https://www.burnleyexpress.net/health/v ... ozR369Am9A

[GetIntoEm]

Hardly a victory is it. Knew they'd turn it into a chargeable service. Scumbags

[Clive 1960]

At least it's going to keep running, hopefully it will also run at the weekends fingers crossed

[Clovius Boofus]

Hardly a victory is it. Knew they'd turn it into a chargeable service. Scumbags

It's better than the alternative - no bus at all. Also, I bet those using it would rather pay £6.00 return, rather than £40.00 return in a taxi.

[CrosspoolClarets]

If hospitals merge and centralise services one would think they were morally obligated to give free transport between those sites. It isn’t unaffordable, it is a choice, like how big to have their HR department or how much to pay for a software contract.

The ones who genuinely cannot afford to pay will miss appointments, get sicker, and cause more hassle for the hospital in the long run. So it should be a nil brainer.

[Clovius Boofus]

or find a cheaper option

They won't find it cheaper than three quid a pop, that's for sure. Cost you way more to park a car for eight hours.

[ClaretTony]

A piece of positive news - shameful that they were going to discontinue running it despite always claiming it would continue while there was demand. Great work to those involved.

[Row x]

A piece of positive news - shameful that they were going to discontinue running it despite always claiming it would continue while there was demand. Great work to those involved.

I thought the same, till I saw how much it cost to run, over 700k a year is not sustainable.
Hopefully it will be priced sensibly

[wilks_bfc]

Councillor taking the “win” when all they’ve done is find a company to replace a “free” service between BGH-RBH that takes 20-30mins between along the M65, with a paid service between BGH-RBH via multiple stops in Burnley & Blackburn town centres that will now take 40-60mins

AKA - a normal bus route

[jojomk1]

Hardly a victory is it. Knew they'd turn it into a chargeable service. Scumbags

There were people using the service who weren't even going to the hospital - they would just get off the shuttle and then catch a local bus into Blackburn town centre

[FCBurnley]

It's better than the alternative - no bus at all. Also, I bet those using it would rather pay £6.00 return, rather than £40.00 return in a taxi.

It’s not as good as having a Hospital in Burnley !!!

[ClaretPete001]

I was in Burnley General recently speaking to a Burnley fan from Darwen about the cost of his taxi.

I guessed he was originally from Darwen not Burnley because he spoke very slowly. On reflection Bacup is also possibility.

Nice bloke - didn't deserve the Darwen jibe but ho hum.....banter init mate

[Clovius Boofus]

It’s not as good as having a Hospital in Burnley !!!

Well, quite. Nobody in their right mind would dispute that.

[Stonehouse]

Not trying to pigeon hole people but I should imagine that a lot of people who use the service haven’t got £6 to spare .

[Row x]

Not trying to pigeon hole people but I should imagine that a lot of people who use the service haven’t got £6 to spare .

It would still be the cheapest way to get from one hospital to the other if you have to park
Patients can use patient transfer if required

[Stonehouse]

It would still be the cheapest way to get from one hospital to the other if you have to park
Patients can use patient transfer if required

But what if you haven’t a car ?

[Row x]

But what if you haven’t a car ?

I haven't mentioned a car, other than it would be more expensive than the bus
If you're a patient you could use free patient transport if you've no way of getting to the hospital

[Stonehouse]

I haven't mentioned a car, other than it would be more expensive than the bus
If you're a patient you could use free patient transport if you've no way of getting to the hospital

You’ve just talked about having to park,and it’s only free if you’ve a bus pass,

[taio]

A stay of execution. It will cease in the end because it won't be commercially viable, or the service will be significantly reduced. Patients are in the minority of people using the service.

[Row x]

You’ve just talked about having to park,and it’s only free if you’ve a bus pass,

Sorry you've totally confused me
I said the bus was the cheapest way to get to the hospital, because if you have a car you have to pay for parking, which is probably more than the bus fare, before you take into account petrol etc
Don't what you are referring to bus passes for, never been mentioned

[Billyblah]

Both the axing of Burnley A &E and also the construction of a hospital on a remote hill location (Blackburn Royal) were sold to the general public on the the pretext that efficient bus services would serve both.
Shame on both NHS management and local Councils that the various parties have chosen to erode that over the years. The fact that the service was axed without looking at cheaper alternative options (like going out to tender to a cheaper alternative provider) until the sh1t hit the fan demonstrates the poor management of NHS services by both NHS and local Council leaders.
This historic culture of failing to think outside a fairly obvious box is one of the many reasons that the NHS has sunk into chaos over the last decade.

[Stonehouse]

Sorry you've totally confused me
I said the bus was the cheapest way to get to the hospital, because if you have a car you have to pay for parking, which is probably more than the bus fare, before you take into account petrol etc
Don't what you are referring to bus passes for, never been mentioned

Your talking in riddles ,my original post suggested that it was the less well off people it would hit ,then you talked about it would be cheaper than paying for parking ,so I said what if they don’t have a car ,obviously your heading down your usual path trying to start an arguement out of nothing ,give a rest I’ll say your right ,now just go and watch the football.

[Row x]

Your talking in riddles ,my original post suggested that it was the less well off people it would hit ,then you talked about it would be cheaper than paying for parking ,so I said what if they don’t have a car ,obviously your heading down your usual path trying to start an arguement out of nothing ,give a rest I’ll say your right ,now just go and watch the football.

[GetIntoEm]

I'm glad people are seeing it as a success.

Just give them the bloody money to keep running it for free

[stateofthenation]

Both the axing of Burnley A &E and also the construction of a hospital on a remote hill location (Blackburn Royal) were sold to the general public on the the pretext that efficient bus services would serve both.
Shame on both NHS management and local Councils that the various parties have chosen to erode that over the years. The fact that the service was axed without looking at cheaper alternative options (like going out to tender to a cheaper alternative provider) until the sh1t hit the fan demonstrates the poor management of NHS services by both NHS and local Council leaders.
This historic culture of failing to think outside a fairly obvious box is one of the many reasons that the NHS has sunk into chaos over the last decade.

Think you will find it’s mainly the PFI scheme.

[stateofthenation]

Hardly a victory is it. Knew they'd turn it into a chargeable service. Scumbags

Who exactly are the scumbags here?

[karatekid]

Pendle community hospital will be the next to go. One of the wards has been told it’s closing soon. We need more wards not less. Discharge lounge at RBH is now closed at weekends to save money. Lots of cuts and not in the right places.

[basil6345789]

You’ve just talked about having to park,and it’s only free if you’ve a bus pass,

Not all bus companies accept bus passes

[GetIntoEm]

Who exactly are the scumbags here?

The hospital, the council, the county council, labour, take your pick

[stateofthenation]

The hospital, the council, the county council, labour, take your pick

You’ll have to explain to me how the council / county council or Labour have anything to do with axing a bus service?

[taio]

You’ll have to explain to me how the council / county council or Labour have anything to do with axing a bus service?

Yes, a complete misunderstanding by GetIntoEm of how the system works.

[bfcjg]

Has Tresor got his own reserved seat ?

[Stonehouse]

In a post on Facebook by our wonderful mp Oliver Ryan trying to claim all the glory for the bus being retained a poster suggested that former Lib Dem mp,Gordon Birtwistle had done a lot for the cause ,Ryan replied that he ‘ Wouldn’t believe a word that Birtwistle said” make of that what you may .

[GetIntoEm]

Yes, a complete misunderstanding by GetIntoEm of how the system works.

Not at all, if hospital trust can't afford it, government won't give them the money, no reason why the councils can't fund it or subsidise if. No reason at all.

[Row x]

Not at all, if hospital trust can't afford it, government won't give them the money, no reason why the councils can't fund it or subsidise if. No reason at all.

Perhaps the council haven't got a spare 700k a year to pay for it, when already losing too much of our money.

[taio]

Not at all, if hospital trust can't afford it, government won't give them the money, no reason why the councils can't fund it or subsidise if. No reason at all.

Local authorities are skint. That's why we are saying a growing number declaring Section 114 notices. They don't have a duty to pay for such a service so there is no way they'd allow a cost shunt like this.

[FeedTheArf]

It’s not as good as having a Hospital in Burnley !!!

There is a perfectly good hospital in Burnley. The best maternity unit in Lancashire, cancer treatments, orthopaedic operations, brand new outpatients wing.

The urgent care centre and children’s unit are both brilliant in my experience and can do probably 70-80% of what people would turn up to A&E for.

A&E closed nearly 20 years ago now, people need to move on.

[Claretrew]

Pendle community hospital will be the next to go. One of the wards has been told it’s closing soon. We need more wards not less. Discharge lounge at RBH is now closed at weekends to save money. Lots of cuts and not in the right places.

Now shut 24 beds gone!

[wilks_bfc]

There is a perfectly good hospital in Burnley. The best maternity unit in Lancashire, cancer treatments, orthopaedic operations, brand new outpatients wing.

The urgent care centre and children’s unit are both brilliant in my experience and can do probably 70-80% of what people would turn up to A&E for.

A&E closed nearly 20 years ago now, people need to move on.

Exactly this.

As you say, Burnley UCC can treat most of the presentations they get. The issue they have is that a proportion of those shouldn’t be there in the first place can could have been treated by self care, GP or pharmacy.

Having the same services across both sites has a huge cost implication on an already stretched NHS, needing twice the staffing levels and resources

[taio]

Exactly this.

As you say, Burnley UCC can treat most of the presentations they get. The issue they have is that a proportion of those shouldn’t be there in the first place can could have been treated by self care, GP or pharmacy.

Having the same services across both sites has a huge cost implication on an already stretched NHS, needing twice the staffing levels and resources

And staffing resources that simply aren't available to enable a type 1 or major emergency department that's consultant led 24/7 with full resus capability.