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Transport issue on the cards

8/ 2/2006

A SPECIAL group has been set up to study the whole issue of transport if major services are shuffled around between Pennine Acute Trust's four hospitals.

The group comprises people from the ambulance service, local government, passenger transport officials, voluntary and OAP groups, local government and extra services like Heywood New Heart Community Transport.

The news has been given by Heywood and Middleton Primary Care Trust amid growing concern - particularly by people in Heywood - about how they will cope if services at Fairfield General or Rochdale Infirmary are moved up to 13 miles away.

The Pennine Trust manages Fairfield, Rochdale, North Manchester and Royal Oldham Hospitals.

The nearest are six miles apart and the furthest distance between any of the four - Fairfield to Royal Oldham - is 13 miles.

Patients' Council chairman Paul Mainwaring said: "There is no doubt this is a major issue which has to be sorted out before any changes can happen. For instance, we have learned in transport group meetings that patient transport vehicles - the non-emergency ambulances - are not allowed to travel in bus lanes, yet flashing light vehicles are.

"This is something that needs to change. I have written to councils asking for these lanes to be unlocked for the non-emergency vehicles."

The primary care trust has also given an assurance that no hospital service will be transferred until services such as new community health centres are in place, but that could take 'several years', say officials.

An area between the central library and the Civic Centre is earmarked for Heywood's health centre and will be built as a joint venture between the public and private sectors.