Agenda and minutes

To note any changes in membership of the Panel made in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4.3.

The Panel noted that Councillor McEwing was in attendance as a nominated substitute for Councillor Keogh in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4.3.

Report of the Senior Manager, Communities, Change and Partnerships for the Panel to note evidence from stakeholders in relation to public and sustainable transport provision to Southampton General Hospital and to provide any written comments and thoughts on emerging recommendations to the Policy and Performance Analyst by 8 March, attached.

The Panel considered the report of the Senior Manager, Communities, Change and Partnerships for the Panel to note evidence from stakeholders in relation to public and sustainable transport provision to Southampton General Hospital and provide comments on emerging recommendation by 8 March.  (Copy of the report circulated with the agenda and appended to the signed minutes)

The following corrections were made to paragraph 6 of the report so it should read:

• The hospital has up to a total of 7,500 staff;
• In the region of 600,000 patients are seen at the hospital each year

The Panel heard presentations and asked questions of the following speakers:

Harry Dymond, SLINK

The Panel noted that:

• that transport to the Southampton General Hospital was often raised at SLINK meetings, particularly for people living to the east of the City and there was confusion over changes to bus services.
• in a recent survey carried out by SLINK transport to health services was reported to be an issue;
• SLINK had detailed their concerns in the report circulated as part of the agenda papers;
• taxi’s an were expensive form of transport and those with children find it difficult to get to the hospital using public transport;
• the bus network was fragmented, with different operators, bus routes keep changing and were confusing for users. 
• that cost had not been raised as an issue in relation to public transport to the hospital.

Anne Meader, Carers Together (see paper appended to minutes)

The Panel noted that:

• the main issues raised were lack of accessible public transport to the hospital, lack of direct bus routes which required users to change buses a number of times to get to the hospital, timing and scheduling difficult and there was a lack of directions from the motorway to the hospital;
• a planning and customer care survey should be carried out regarding public transport;
• a bus service was provided for hospital staff from Thornhill to the hospital - could there be a public bus service?;
• people could travel long distances to the hospital. Better links were required from the train station, ferry and wider region, possibly a park and ride option for patients and carers;
• co-ordinated care should be centred on the individual, taking into account their requirements.

The Panel discussed the Patient Transport Services and whether people were aware of them.  It appeared that information was not readily available and often patients were not made aware of the service.  It was acknowledged that when people were unwell it was more difficult to be proactive to find out about options available for transport.  GP’s often refer people for appointments at the hospital, but it was not clear whether information was given out regarding options for transport.

Tracy Eldridge, Member of the Public

Tracy Eldbridge, Member of the Public was present and with the consent of the Chair addressed the Panel regarding her observations at the hospital and long waiting times for a patient waiting for the patient transport service.

Michael Woodward, Joint  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.