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Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 11:33 am
by 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
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 11:46 am
by GetIntoEm
Hardly a victory is it. Knew they'd turn it into a chargeable service. Scumbags
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 11:59 am
by Clive 1960
At least it's going to keep running, hopefully it will also run at the weekends fingers crossed
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 1:27 pm
by Clovius Boofus
GetIntoEm wrote: âFri Jan 31, 2025 11:46 am
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 ÂŁ6.00 return, rather than ÂŁ40.00 return in a taxi.
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 1:33 pm
by CrosspoolClarets
If hospitals merge and centralise services one would think they were morally obligated to give free transport between those sites. It isnât 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.
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 2:23 pm
by Clovius Boofus
Jel wrote: âFri Jan 31, 2025 1:34 pm
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.
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 3:19 pm
by 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.
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 3:21 pm
by Row x
ClaretTony wrote: âFri Jan 31, 2025 3:19 pm
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
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 3:23 pm
by wilks_bfc
Councillor taking the âwinâ when all theyâve done is find a company to replace a âfreeâ 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
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 4:06 pm
by jojomk1
GetIntoEm wrote: âFri Jan 31, 2025 11:46 am
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
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 4:53 pm
by FCBurnley
Clovius Boofus wrote: âFri Jan 31, 2025 1:27 pm
It's better than the alternative - no bus at all. Also, I bet those using it would rather pay ÂŁ6.00 return, rather than ÂŁ40.00 return in a taxi.
Itâs not as good as having a Hospital in Burnley !!!
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 4:57 pm
by 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
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 6:34 pm
by Clovius Boofus
FCBurnley wrote: âFri Jan 31, 2025 4:53 pm
Itâs not as good as having a Hospital in Burnley !!!
Well, quite. Nobody in their right mind would dispute that.
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 6:38 pm
by Stonehouse
Not trying to pigeon hole people but I should imagine that a lot of people who use the service havenât got ÂŁ6 to spare .
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 6:41 pm
by Row x
Stonehouse wrote: âFri Jan 31, 2025 6:38 pm
Not trying to pigeon hole people but I should imagine that a lot of people who use the service havenât got ÂŁ6 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
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 7:37 pm
by Stonehouse
Row x wrote: âFri Jan 31, 2025 6:41 pm
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 havenât a car ?
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 7:42 pm
by Row x
Stonehouse wrote: âFri Jan 31, 2025 7:37 pm
But what if you havenât 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
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 7:43 pm
by Stonehouse
Row x wrote: âFri Jan 31, 2025 7:42 pm
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
Youâve just talked about having to park,and itâs only free if youâve a bus pass,
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 7:49 pm
by 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.
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 7:56 pm
by Row x
Stonehouse wrote: âFri Jan 31, 2025 7:43 pm
Youâve just talked about having to park,and itâs only free if youâve 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
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 7:56 pm
by 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.
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 8:02 pm
by Stonehouse
Row x wrote: âFri Jan 31, 2025 7:56 pm
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 donât have a car ,obviously your heading down your usual path trying to start an arguement out of nothing ,give a rest Iâll say your right ,now just go and watch the football.
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 8:07 pm
by Row x
Stonehouse wrote: âFri Jan 31, 2025 8:02 pm
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 donât have a car ,obviously your heading down your usual path trying to start an arguement out of nothing ,give a rest Iâll say your right ,now just go and watch the football.
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 9:52 pm
by GetIntoEm
I'm glad people are seeing it as a success.
Just give them the bloody money to keep running it for free
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 10:07 pm
by stateofthenation
Billyblah wrote: âFri Jan 31, 2025 7:56 pm
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 itâs mainly the PFI scheme.
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 10:12 pm
by stateofthenation
GetIntoEm wrote: âFri Jan 31, 2025 11:46 am
Hardly a victory is it. Knew they'd turn it into a chargeable service. Scumbags
Who exactly are the scumbags here?
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 10:52 pm
by karatekid
Pendle community hospital will be the next to go. One of the wards has been told itâs 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.
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 11:07 pm
by basil6345789
Stonehouse wrote: âFri Jan 31, 2025 7:43 pm
Youâve just talked about having to park,and itâs only free if youâve a bus pass,
Not all bus companies accept bus passes
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2025 6:20 pm
by GetIntoEm
The hospital, the council, the county council, labour, take your pick
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2025 10:04 pm
by stateofthenation
GetIntoEm wrote: âSat Feb 01, 2025 6:20 pm
The hospital, the council, the county council, labour, take your pick
Youâll have to explain to me how the council / county council or Labour have anything to do with axing a bus service?
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2025 10:23 pm
by taio
stateofthenation wrote: âSat Feb 01, 2025 10:04 pm
Youâll 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.
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2025 10:24 pm
by bfcjg
Has Tresor got his own reserved seat ?
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2025 10:49 pm
by 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 â Wouldnât believe a word that Birtwistle saidâ make of that what you may .
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2025 7:51 am
by GetIntoEm
taio wrote: âSat Feb 01, 2025 10:23 pm
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.
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2025 7:58 am
by Row x
GetIntoEm wrote: âSun Feb 02, 2025 7:51 am
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.
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2025 8:08 am
by taio
GetIntoEm wrote: âSun Feb 02, 2025 7:51 am
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.
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2025 9:03 am
by FeedTheArf
FCBurnley wrote: âFri Jan 31, 2025 4:53 pm
Itâs 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 childrenâs 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.
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2025 9:21 am
by Claretrew
karatekid wrote: âFri Jan 31, 2025 10:52 pm
Pendle community hospital will be the next to go. One of the wards has been told itâs 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!
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2025 9:40 am
by wilks_bfc
FeedTheArf wrote: âSun Feb 02, 2025 9:03 am
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 childrenâs 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 shouldnât 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
Re: Burnley/Blackburn Hospital bus
Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2025 9:49 am
by taio
wilks_bfc wrote: âSun Feb 02, 2025 9:40 am
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 shouldnât 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.
