Transport Costs Fear over Hospital Reorganisation

3.13.34pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 14th Sep 2006

Wantage Lib Dem Councillor Jim Moley has voiced concerns at a recent County Council meeting about the potentially vast increase in demand for council subsidised transport arising from the reorganisation of local hospitals.

Jim Moley said: "Oxfordshire is one of the most rural counties in the South East of England. Access from rural areas around Wantage to hospitals in Oxford and community hospitals in small towns like Wallingford and Watlington will prove immensely difficult - if not impossible - for family and friends without cars, as well as patients visiting for appointments.

"This is likely to mean hugely increased public transport demands which the County Council as transport authority will not be able to meet - and neither would other local councils."

At the meeting the Cabinet member responsible agreed that the cost implications for the County Council in this area are grave.

Jim Moley went on: "I agree with the cabinet member in blaming the Government for a funding formula which funds the health services in this supposedly rich part of England at a very low level, forcing Health Trusts to take desperate measures. I sympathise fully with them but we should be under no illusion about the transport consequences of reorganisation in rural areas.

"The better acute hospitals become, the greater the demand for community hospital service is likely to get as more patients are treated and require care after their treatment. Despite this, community hospitals in rural areas like Wantage remain under threat."

Jim concluded: "I am aware of the discussions between health authorities and the County Council on access but there are already transport difficulties for volunteer drivers and I have attempted to make the appropriate connections in my area.

"The Government is neither funding the health authorities in Oxfordshire fairly nor the transport authorities to cope with the access costs of hospital reorganisation in rural areas."