Hospital shuttle bus statements out of order (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Hospital shuttle bus statements out of order

1:04pm Thursday 17th September 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share

WARRINGTON and Halton Hospitals Foundation Trust intends to increase the cost of using the car parking facilities.

Chief executive Catherine Beardshaw identified the intended charges to be £3 for three hours at a recent governors council meeting.

She also confirmed that the free bus service, currently used by staff, patients and relatives to travel between Halton and Warrington Hospital will incur a charge of £1 per journey in the near future.

She had not previously explained the reason behind the need to now charge for using the free bus service until the meeting where she stated that it was necessary due to ‘the abuse of the service by residents of Runcorn and Halton to go shopping’.

When asked to clarify her statement by a Runcorn councillor, Ms Beardshaw gave an understanding that she had discussed the charges with the councils and had their support. She was challenged to identify who in the council she had discussed the charges with as the councillor had no knowledge of any discussions taking place. I have contacted all listed members of Halton and Warrington Borough Council to seek clarification of the discussion that took place. To date, I have only received replies from councillors who have no knowledge of any discussions taking place.

As a member of the Runcorn and Halton communities, I found Ms Beardshaw’s public statements to be both derogatory and inflammatory, especially as there was no proof to substantiate her claims produced at the public meeting. I would pose the question of what steps have previously been taken to prevent any alleged abuse and what other potential measures have been considered? I am sure there are a number of other methods of addressing this issue, without the need to start charging passengers.

MIKE HIGHTON Runcorn

• Print
• Email
• Share