COUNCILLORS are calling for better transport links to hospitals after a request for a free shuttle service was turned down.

Numerous patients who live in Hyndburn have raised the problem of getting to hospital appointments with their local councillors, who in turn contacted East Lancashire Hospitals Trust.

Councillors asked the trust if the hospital’s shuttle service, which operates between Royal Blackburn Hospital and Burnley General Hospital could be extended into Hyndburn, after learning the service had recently been extended into Pendle.

But the bid was unsuccesful, leading Hyndburn Borough Council leader Peter Britcliffe to call for a special meeting with bus operators Transdev and East Lancashire Primary Care Trust to solve the issue once and for all.

Councillors have now asked if it is possible to extend bus services from Accrington to Shadsworth on to Royal Blackburn Hospital to help people with less mobility reach the site.

St Oswald’s ward Councillor Doug Hayes, who was asked by several councillors to investigate the issue, said he was disappointed that the shuttle bus idea had proved fruitless.

He said: “It is disappointing because from our point of view they had buses going every 15 minutes between 6am and 10.20pm which go right past Accrington on the way.

“We asked if the service could not come down Dunkenhalgh Way to make a stop off but we were told this was not possible.

“Essentially we were told the service was primarily for staff working between both sites but that patients were welcome to use it.

“A stop in Pendle once a day was only added because of the relocation of a rehabilitation ward from the Royal Blackburn Hospital to the Pendle Community Hospital.

“Now we are hoping that we can extend ordinary bus services to Shadsworth to serve the hospital.”

Council leader Peter Britcliff said: “Hyndburn has an aging population and car ownership is relatively low in the borough. It seems this is an issue which really needs to be resolved. Going backwards and forwards to hospital is a real struggle when people are ill.”

John Dell, strategic planning officer for East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “The Shuttle bus has always been intended as a means of inter-hospital travel, particularly between the Royal Blackburn Hospital and Burnley General Hospital sites, and for this reason a stop at Accrington bus station would be inappropriate.

“However we continue to work closely with local bus services, and would welcome any assistance Hyndburn Council was able to give in encouraging new public transport options for people travelling to East Lancashire’s hospitals.”