Presentation on hospital transport issues from Havering transport planning officers.
Minutes:
The Council’s transport planning officers gave a presentation on the work of the transport planning team in relation to Queen’s Hospital. The Health for North East London proposals for moving services between Queens and King George Hospitals had led to a number of travel issues and concerns. Many of these had been expressed at a meeting arranged by the local LINks in October 2010 and, subsequent to this, Havering’s Cabinet member – Councillor Barry Tebbutt had met with Councillors from neighbouring boroughs. As a result of these meetings, it had been decided to work with the hospital travel plan and also to respond to the TfL autumn bus review.
The autumn bus review had considered routes 498 between Brentwood and Romford and 499 from Gallows Corner to Heath Park Estate. EC felt there was fairly good coverage of bus routes across the catchment area of the hospital but there were not enough buses going directly into the hospital. A hospital travel survey had been undertaken which showed that a large number of people felt they only had one option (whether by bus, car etc) to get to the hospital. Cost was also cited as a reason why people did not use buses. More than a third of respondents also wanted improved bus access to the hospital.
Officers had therefore included in their response to the bus review a request to bring buses stopping nearby into the hospital itself. TfL had also been asked to undertake a full review of bus services to Queen’s. The submission to the review had also asked for improvements to services between King George Hospital and Queen’s and between Harold Wood polyclinic and Queen’s. Improvements to Romford bus station had also been requested.
The Brentwood community bus – 898 ran between Brentwood and Queen’s Hospital and also connected the villages of Kelvedon Hatch, Pilgrims Hatch and Blackmore. Usage of the route had increased but was still averaging only four passengers per trip at present. Additional funding was needed to keep the service going, extend the last but to a 4 pm departure from the hospital and potentially extend the route to include Harold Wood polyclinic.
The Hospitals Trust (BHRUT) was currently looking at options for parking arrangements at Queen’s Hospital. It was accepted that there was a lot of demand for the surface level disabled parking although EC felt there had been less congestion since the introduction of longer visiting times.
The only nearby stations with step free access were Romford and Ilford. Work was ongoing at Chadwell Heath and was scheduled to improve the step free access at Romford in 2014. The construction of Crossrail would bring step free access to all local stations but not until 2016-2019 although efforts were being made to bring these dates forward.
Officers emphasised that work was ongoing with TfL to regularly lobby for improvements. Responses were also put in to any Mayoral consultations on transport issues. A positive development was that it had recently been confirmed that the 193 service to Queen’s Hospital (from Gidea Park, Emerson Park and the Country Park Estate) would now run every 20 minutes instead of the current half-hourly frequency.
Cllr. Light explained that, due to the lack of lifts at Harold Wood station, local residents in fact had to go out to Shenfield in order to board a train to Romford. This problem was compounded by Shenfield being outside the Freeedom Pass zone and hence fare money had to be spent each time this was done.
Councillor Eden raised the problems experienced by members of the CHINS group of head and neck cancer sufferers who were referred to Barts for their treatment and were usually expected to travel to and from central London by public transport at their own expense. NM clarified that the organisation delivering the care i.e. Barts in this instance would be responsible for arranging patient transport but agreed to update on the specific situation with patients referred to Barts.
NM confirmed that the staff car park at Queen’s was full on a daily basis. Staff had been told not to use the public car park and would have difficulty exiting the car park if they did so. Staff use of disabled spaces was also monitored. NM conformed that staff did pay to use the car park. Use of public transport and car sharing by staff was also encouraged. Staff working shifts at the hospital were however more likely to need to use the car park. MB reported that the LINk was concerned that monitoring of the blue badge spaces appeared to have ceased. NM felt that monitoring was in fact continuing and that stickers were put on cars to as a deterrent against further improvements. The charging for disabled bays inside the multi-storey car park was in fact to ease congestion as blue badge holders would otherwise require the assistance of security to let them out of the car park. NM reiterated that disabled parking remained free of charge in the surface car park. Access to the cancer unit car park was free and the security guard would allow exit. Councillor Light reported seeing a substantial number of disabled spaces being available on her last visit to the hospital.
EC confirmed that transport information to the hospital was now being put on the reverse of appointment letters although this may not include specific information on the location of nearby bus stoops etc.
Councillor Light thanked EC and DD for their presentation and for answering the Committee’s questions.