Gloucestershire Hospitals sign landmark deal with Stagecoach West

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has signed a groundbreaking contract with Stagecoach West to provide staff and patients with a brand new shuttle bus and park and ride service.

The partnership will provide passengers with frequent services between Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General Hospitals from March. Hospital staff will benefit from free travel to and from work within the county, easing pressure on both car parks and the region's roads.

Buses on Service 99 are fully compliant with DDA regulations and meet Euro IV emissions standards, helping to cut carbon emissions. The service will run up to every half hour and will dramatically improve traffic flow between the two hospital sites. NHS staff will be expected to make full use of the service when travelling between the two sites.

The Park and Ride service will run from the Racecourse to Cheltenham General Hospital via the town centre every 15 minutes at peak times, encouraging staff to leave their cars at home. The Cheltenham town centre stop will be at Albion Street/Winchcombe Street on journeys to the hospital and in Clarence Parade (Revolutions) when travelling from Cheltenham General to the Racecourse.  Dedicated Bus stops have been established at the Pathology Department in the grounds of both Cheltenham General and Gloucester Royal Hospitals.

"We are delighted to welcome Stagecoach West on board to provide improved facilities for our staff and patients" said the Trust's Director of Corporate Governance and Facilities Graham Lloyd at the signing.

"This is a significant step in our programme of change to provide improved access to the Hospitals and to deliver on our Green Transport agenda.

We are committed to improving the quality of bus services and transport more generally between the hospitals and believe that working in partnership we will be able to deliver real benefits for passengers.  Our aim is to make travel simpler.
This innovative strategy is part of our wider work to improve facilities and equipment at the Trust and this contract with Stagecoach is a key step in its implementation."

Ian Manning, Managing Director Stagecoach West said:

This is another excellent example of bus companies working with key local employers like the Gloucestershire NHS Trust on Green Transport Plans to the benefit of congestion and the environment, whilst simultaneously improving public transport links to the main hospitals for both staff and patients.

For further information please contact Sarah Aspinall, Communications Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: 08454 224722 or Nathan Williams, Marketing Manager Stagecoach West: 07753 775193