GPs warn patients are struggling to get to new Downe

GPs warn patients are struggling to get to new Downe

9 January 2013

HUNDREDS of patients who attend the Downe Hospital are finding it difficult to get to the out-of-town complex because there is no dedicated bus service.

GPs working at the complex have highlighted complaints they have received and warned that almost 40 per cent of their patients are finding it much more inconvenient getting to the hospital for appointments and treatment.

Two Downpatrick GPs, Dr. Paddy Moore and Dr. Una Small, recently located their surgery to the new Downe Hospital from the former Pound Lane clinic which has since been demolished.

They asked their patients to complete a questionnaire to try to identify any problems with the new premises and 39 per cent said they felt the bus service was inadequate.

The GPs have now written to Translink highlighting the problems faced by their patients and asking the transport company to bear in mind that the transfer of the surgery to the Downe has greatly increased the number of patients travelling to the hospital on a daily basis.

“We estimate up to an extra 100 patients a day for appointments and about four times that many for other health related queries,” said the GPs in a letter seen by the Down Recorder.

“Many of these have chronic mobility problems and very many are elderly, 52 per cent of our respondents were over 60 years of age.”

Central to the problem is the lack of a dedicated bus service from Downpatrick town centre to the hospital similar to those that exist in other hospitals. At present a bus calls at the hospital on an hourly basis as part of the existing daytime neighbourhood service provided by Translink which also calls in at other parts of the town on the way.

There are ongoing discussions to introduce a more regular service to the Downshire public sector campus which could patients at the rear foyer of the hospital and also stop at the Down Council and Housing Executive offices. However, it is understood Translink is keen to see some financial support for such a service.

Two Downpatrick councillors, who have strongly supported Translink’s efforts to find a public transport solution to the problems, are calling for a shuttle bus service which would be subsidised by the organisations based at the Downshire campus — the South Eastern Health Trust, Down Council and the Housing Executive.

Councillor Cadogen Enright and Dermot Curran say Translink is keen to develop a bus service to the hospital but the South Eastern Health Trust and Down Council management have been slow to respond.

“It is clear from the record that Translink are not responsible for this situation,” said councillor Enright. “Since 2006 Translink management have been trying to work with the South Eastern Trust and the Council to prepare for the huge shift in travel arrangements that was expected from the new hospital and the public sector campus at the Downshire.”

The two councillors have now put a notion of motion before the next meeting of the council mandating council managers to work vigorously with Translink and the Trust to bring public transport to the Downshire and hospital.

Councillor Curran said the design of the public sector campus, hospital and car parks are not friendly to public sector transport, “despite the best efforts of Translink management to influence it.”

“Normal sized buses can’t get access,” he said. “Listening to Translink’s ideas would let the Ardglass bus and other local buses service the site. Both Trust and Council management need to reflect a modern, sustainable approach to public transport.”

Translink district manager, Gary Mawhinney, said the firm has been working closely with Down Council and the South Eastern Trust to try to improve the service. “We are looking at possibly utilising the Downshire site as a main access and then taking patients to the rear foyer of the hospital,” he said.

A spokeswoman for the South Eastern Trust said the organisation is fully supportive of the current bus service provided by Translink which s patients off at the front door.

“The Trust displays Translink timetables for this service at prominent locations within the Hospital. The Trust has received no complaints about this service,” she said. “A number of meetings have been held between the Trust, Translink and Down District Council to discuss the service and these are ongoing.”