New Forest: 'Health bus' could take patients to hospitals

Local authorities say they want to make it easier for people without their own transport to access University Hospital Southampton (UHS) and Lymington New Forest Hospital.

Supporters of the proposal say it would also benefit patients who still drive but struggle to pay parking charges at UHS.

If the scheme goes ahead, the service will operate four times a day, five days a week in the Totton and Waterside area.

The proposed new bus service will operate between University Hospital Southampton and Lymington New Forest Hospital (Image: Newsquest)

A Totton and Eling Town Council spokesperson said it was aware of the difficulties faced by people who needed to attend hospital appointments and had to rely on existing forms of public transport.

They added that the proposed new bus service would run up to four times per day, five days a week.

For what the council describes as a "small charge", users will be picked up and dropped off at designated points in each of the five parishes on the eastern edge of the New Forest.

The council, which is acting in conjunction with other local authorities, has launched an online questionnaire to gauge the potential demand.

People completing the questionnaire are asked how often they would use the bus, where they would like to be picked up and dropped off, and whether they would require disabled access to the vehicle.

The survey adds: "The proposed health bus service is subject to funding. Do you consider this project a good use of public monies?"

People driving to University Hospital Southampton often face congestion and a shortage of parking spaces (Image: Newsquest)

Totton councillor David Harrison said: "I'm very pleased the council are addressing this issue. Hopes raised in the past by other councillors always came to nothing because they weren’t prepared to subsidise a bus service.

"I suspect there will probably be a high demand, especially given car park charges at the hospital."

In a message to residents he added: "Please complete the survey. It should enable us to negotiate a good deal with a bus company."

One of the problems faced by people who drive to UHS is congestion and the shortage of parking spaces.

Earlier this year, four Southampton councillors penned an open letter to hospital bosses calling on them to take action on the "long-running issue" of traffic delays on roads surrounding the site.

A hospital spokesperson said several measures had been implemented to tackle the problem.

These included creating an additional patient drop-off space by the South Academic Block, increasing the number of virtual clinics, and giving patients “more control” over the need for follow-up appointments.