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NHS Fife criticised over Queen Margaret Hospital Transport Delay
November 9, 2007 9:00 AM
NHS Fife has been accused of letting patients down after it was discovered that the number of bus services to Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline has been cut.
It has also emerged that the special transport group set up to drive forward the initiative has not met for several months following the departure of the Travel Plan Coordinator who had only been in the post for less than a year.
The latest changes to the Stagecoach bus timetable have resulted in a reduction of five services an hour to four services an hour to the hospital. The three times an hour 55 and have been replaced by the twice hourly 79 service.
The Lib Dem representatives for West Fife, Jim Tolson MSP and Willie Rennie MP, have joined forces to criticise NHS Fife.
Willie Rennie MP said:
"Getting to hospital is a serious problem for patients, visitors and staff yet the NHS act with no sense of urgency. Five years is far too long to wait.
"If the NHS were running the buses they would move at a snail's pace.
MSP Jim Tolson said:
"It's been all talk and no action on the development of these travel plans. Fife NHS promised me they would provide a dedicated service between QMH and Victoria hospitals. Documents were published as far back as 2002 but five years on we have seen a bigger car park and a reduction in bus services at Queen Margaret.
"This doesn't help the environment, cut congestion nor make it convenient for visitors, patients and staff. We need to have frequent, fast and reliable bus services serving the hospital.
"We have written to the Chairman of NHS Fife, Jim McGoldrick to urge him to set a strict deadline for the improvement in services.
Notes
TRANSPORT AND THE NHS, March 2005 http://www.nhsfife.scot.nhs.uk/Papers/Meeting%20Papers/7.2a.doc
A STRATEGIC TRAVEL PLAN FRAMEWORK FOR NHS FIFE, September 2006
http://www.nhsfife.scot.nhs.uk/Papers/2006/29%20Aug%202006%20-%20Board/8.1(a)(i)%20Travel%20Plan%20Framework.doc
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