Testing journey

Recently I have driven people to visit their loved ones in Lincoln County Hospital.

Last week I took public transport so as to better understand the difficulties faced by those without a car.

Virtually a full day was put aside as the outing, including the two hours hospital patient visiting time, took over seven hours, of which 4hrs 40mins was the travelling time.

To undertake such a journey involved catching three buses, two trains, and a taxi, costing a total of £15.30.

So when Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust informs us that in the new year a bus is to be provided from Newark to King’s Mill Hospital, Sutton-in-Ashfield, I wonder what the trust might do for the large percentage of those who find themselves travelling to Lincoln County Hospital?

The solution is simple.

Do not provide transport that runs for a short period of time and is then withdrawn because of its economic non-viability.

The trust should upgrade the Minor Injuries Unit at Newark Hospital so that more local people can use these facilities.

Such upgrading would in turn facilitate the provision of more inpatient beds, and also permit ambulance emergency cases to be delivered in certain circumstances.

Let’s have a local hospital, fit for the use of the local people.