Hospital shuttle bus changes

Published Wednesday, 29th November 2017

THE CHAIR of Hartlepool Council’s Audit and Governance Committee has met with North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust to learn about a revised timetable for its inter-hospital shuttle bus.

The revised service – which commences on Friday (1 December) – will operate between 8:30am and 8:30pm on weekdays, running a continuous loop between the University Hospital of North Tees and the University Hospital of Hartlepool, and between 1:30pm and 8:30pm on a weekend.

Councillor Ray Martin-Wells, Chair of Hartlepool Borough Council’s Audit and Governance Committee, said: “The Foundation Trust, like all public sector organisations in the North East, is facing substantial financial pressures.

“The shuttle bus timetable currently costs the trust £240,000 per year and the new timetable will reduce this burden significantly, while still ensuring the trust is able to provide an appropriate service to patients and visitors.

“The Audit and Governance Committee will be keeping a watching brief on the service and any other proposals that may come forward in the future.

“I do, however, recognise that these changes will have an impact on staff working between the two sites and responsibility for dealing with these employment issues sits with North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust.”

The shuttle bus service remains free to use, however, needs to be pre-booked via the service desk on (01429) 522550.

The Trust also operates a free door-to-door volunteer driver service via the same service desk number.