Call for Better Transport Links to Hospital

Liberal Democrats in Stockton discussed the Independent Review of Hospital Services last night and expressed delight that the uncertainty which has surrounded maternity and paediatric services at University Hospital North Tees has been removed. We agree wholeheartedly with the report's statement that

"It is not an option for the location of maternity and paediatric services to stay the same. People north of the Tees deserve access to maternity and paediatric services of at least comparable quality and safety to those provided south of the Tees."

We now call on all parties including the ambulance service and commercial bus operators to ensure that transport to the hospital from all parts of the North Tees and Hartlepool Trust area is made as accessible as necessary for everyone using the two hospitals. As the report says, it is unacceptable for a young mother with a pushchair to have 3 changes of bus in order to access services. This is equally true for those travelling from Stockton to Hartlepool for orthopaedic treatment and for those visiting family and friends in either hospital.

If the new single hospital is built we will campaign for good public transport links to it from all parts of the catchment area. It will not serve the people living north of the Tees if it is only accessible by car - we need frequent reliable bus services from all areas, urban and rural.