Mayor sets out bold vision to boost bus services to London’s hospitals

•          Bus services at more than 40 hospitals and specialist healthcare centres reviewed 

·           Priority improvements set out for seven hospitals to benefit patients, visitors and staff

·           Review in line with Mayor’s manifesto commitment of improving health service access across London

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today set out his long-term vision to improve bus services for tens of thousands of patients, visitors and staff at hospitals across the capital.

New bus links, re-routing and more buses to hospitals are among the Mayor’s priorities for improving the services that are so vital to Londoners. 

The priorities have been set out following a review of bus services to more than 40 hospitals and specialist healthcare centres across the capital. 

The review, which was a manifesto commitment and delivers on the Mayor’s aim of improving access to health services, recommends a number of changes that would benefit tens of thousands of hospital patients, staff and visitors. The improvements will be subject to consultation, infrastructure changes and funding. TfL will work with the NHS, councils and local stakeholders to secure the funding to progress the plans. 

The first changes are already underway and it is hoped that most of the top priorities can be delivered within the next year. These include providing new links to Darent Valley Hospital, Dartford; Epsom Hospital; and Queen’s Hospital, Romford. TfL is also working with hospitals and councils to deliver new links to Central Middlesex Hospital in Park Royal; North Middlesex University Hospital in Edmonton; and Whittington Hospital in Highgate. The frequency of services to Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup, has already been increased as part of this work.

Further potential changes, which would help more Londoners reach hospitals and medical centres, range from creating brand new bus links to adding new stops to existing routes.  This includes potential improvements to services to 32 hospitals, including new links to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich; Hillingdon Hospital, Uxbridge; Kingston Hospital; and Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel.  

More than six million journeys are made on London’s buses every weekday. All 9,300 buses are fully accessible and are particularly relied on by older Londoners, disabled people and those travelling with children, often with prams or buggies.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Our bus services are lifelines to the tens of thousands of patients, staff and visitors who use them every single day to get to London’s hospitals. We’re committed to making these journeys as affordable, convenient and easy to make as possible, so that we can not only help existing passengers but also open up these services to help many more Londoners. We’re now working closely with hospitals and councils to deliver these improvements as soon as we possibly can.”

Gordon Deuchars, Policy and Campaigns Manager, Age UK London, said: “Getting to hospital can be an ordeal for older people, so we welcome any improvement to bus services to and from London's hospitals.  An improved service including less distance to walk between bus stop and hospital, and consistent use of the iBus system would offer greater independence and more travel options for older people who often have to rely on relatives for lifts or, if able to drive themselves, face eye watering car park fees.”

Anne Rainsberry, Regional Director for NHS England (London) said: “Hopping on a bus to the hospital should be hassle-free for all patients, visitors and staff, so we welcome Transport for London’s work to boost services and improve access.”  

Cllr Julian Bell, Chair of London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee, said: “London boroughs play an important role in designing and improving transport networks and we have long recognised that a London-wide review of hospital bus services would be valuable. We welcome TfL’s review and will look at its recommendations closely. We are keen for TfL to be an active player in any future review of hospitals or health care services so that transport needs can be assessed as plans are created, not after work has been completed. This also applies to any new developments, or any changes in land use given the current pressure to build more homes in London.”  

Leon Daniels, TfL’s Managing Director of Surface Transport, said: “Our review of bus services to hospitals has identified a significant number of potential improvements that could benefit thousands of people, particularly those who are in any way mobility-impaired.  They will increase the number of people able use a fully accessible bus route to get to and from hospital. We will work closely with stakeholders and partners to deliver further improvements to bus services across the Capital to meet the needs of our customers.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

•          Further information on the review is available on the TfL website on the Customer Service and Operational Performance meeting papers for 13 July at: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/customer-service-op-performance

•          The review, which was led by TfL and involved the Greater London Authority, London Councils and London boroughs, sought the views of key stakeholders including Age UK (London), NHS Improvement and NHS North West London.

•          Sixteen central London hospitals have at least a million people within 60 minutes bus travel time.

•          Potential changes, ranging from creating brand new bus links to hospitals to adding new stops to existing routes to allow more people to reach a medical centre, are being considered.  These potential changes have been ranked into suggested priority levels based on: value for money; feasibility – including infrastructure; the likely level of stakeholder support; availability of funding.  Most of the these changes would also be subject to public consultation.   

•          The entire fleet of 9,300 buses are low floor, wheelchair accessible and are fitted with ramps.  Buses are also able to ‘kneel’ to pavement level to make it easier for older or disabled passengers to board.  The iBus system is also fitted to every bus.  It provides passengers with audio and visual next stop information which is of particular use to passengers with sight or hearing impairments or anyone who is unfamiliar with London.

•          Buses also represent very good value for money; a single bus fare is frozen at £1.50 until 2020 and the Hopper fare enables passengers to switch onto another bus for free within an hour.

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