Calls to reverse staff fare on hospital bus service

The Hospital Hopper service introduced changes on Monday

Calls have been made to reverse a decision to charge hospital workers for a bus service that had previously been completely free.

From Monday, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) staff had to start paying to use a Hospital Hopper from non-UHL sites. A single adult fare from a non-UHL site will be £1.80 for people with a valid staff identification badge. Staff will still be able to travel for free from UHL sites.

The GMB Union said the fee would negatively impact workers in the lowest NHS pay bands.

UHL said the subsidised travel cost would allow the trust to maintain the service going forward.

The Hospital Hopper service connects Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester General Hospital and Glenfield Hospital, with other stops located throughout the city.

Fares for the public will remain the same, the trust said.

Jim Clarke, regional officer for the GMB Union said he was "very disappointed" by the trust's decision.

"The lower [pay] bands are not much above minimum wage and this is going to have a massive impact on them paying that [fare]," he said.

"The trust needs to reverse the decision on this."

Zuffar Haq, Liberal Democrat councillor for Evington, said the fee was a "terrible idea" that would encourage people to drive instead of use public transport.

Haq said he would be starting a petition against the staff fare.

Haq added the free service for UHL staff helped to keep traffic congestion out of the city centre

Julie Hogg, group chief nurse at UHL said the trust was committed to ensuring the service was "financially sustainable".

She said: "The new subsidised charge is the lowest single fare in Leicestershire.

"This decision was taken after careful consideration, and we recognise the impact it will have on some of our colleagues.

"These measures will keep the cost as low as possible for them, while allowing UHL to continue to maintain this important service going forward."

A hospital patient, who did not want to be named, said she agreed with UHL's decision.

"I'm paying £24 a week and I'm travelling from home to hospital for appointments and it's a bit expensive because I'm not working at the moment.

"Everyone has to pay some way - it's not easy."

Zainab Khalid, who is on a clinical attachment at UHL, said if the trust had to resort to charging stuff for the bus service, the fare should be reduced further.

"There is so much travelling [involved in the job]. If they want us to pay, then the charge should be minimal," she said.

Changes to Leicester's Park and Ride service will also affect UHL staff

Meanwhile, the Park and Ride service also stopped free travel for all NHS staff from Monday.

The bus service is jointly owned by Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council, which contract the operation and management of the service to a private operator.

Roberts Travel Group recently took on operational responsibility of the service under a new commercial contact.

In a statement, the firm said: "Operating the service on a commercial basis means we now carry the full cost of running and maintaining all three Park & Ride routes.

"To ensure the long-term sustainability and reliability of the service, fare adjustments have been necessary."