Hospital shuttle bus withdrawal condemned

The East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust axed the free service, introduced in 2007, with effect from 1 April

The withdrawal of a hospital shuttle bus has been condemned by councillors of all parties as the authority's full meeting unanimously called for the decision to be reversed.

The East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) axed the free service, introduced in 2007, with effect from 1 April saying it could no longer afford the £780,000 a year operating cost.

The Burnley Council's full meeting passed a motion proposed by Burnley Independent Group's councillor Aurangzeb Ali and seconded by Labour's councillor Fiona Wild.

It said the bus was "a vital lifeline for residents".

The motion said: "This decision was made with minimal notice and without consultation.

"The shuttle bus service was introduced as a critical commitment when Burnley General Hospital's emergency department was closed.

"The service has since become a vital lifeline for residents, especially for those facing financial hardship, health challenges, or mobility issues."

'Result in deaths'

It said the council would "formally call on ELHT to reverse its decision or, at the very least, conduct a fair and transparent consultation process" adding it would write to the Secretary of State for Health "and relevant NHS authorities to demand immediate action on this issue".

Mr Ali said: "This decision not only undermines promises made to our communities but risks leaving some of our most vulnerable residents without equitable access to vital healthcare services.

"Without the shuttle patients and staff face significant costs to public transport which is often impractical and time consuming for low-income families.

"This will mean choosing between healthcare and affordability."

Liberal Democrat councillor Gordon Birtwistle said it was "critical that this bus service is maintained".

"Elderly people need to get to that hospital and some will not go and that will result in deaths."

Conservative group finance spokesman councillor Jamie McGowan said: "I do find it crazy that in 2025 that getting a bus service seems such a difficult thing to do."

A similar Labour motion was withdrawn before the debate while Blackburn with Darwen's full Council Forum will debate the issue next week.