Bus services to Southmead Hospital are set to be reduced next month as one route is scrapped completely and another set to be reduced. From April there will only be two regular services that go directly to the hospital site, off Southmead Road, following the withdrawal of the 506 bus and the reduction of the 17 service.
A representative from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has said that further cuts to the existing hospital service will impact lower paid workers, who are less likely to drive, and that it will be difficult for staff who are starting or ending their shifts early or late. Emma Hallam who spoke to Bristol Live on behalf of RCN members at Southmead Hospital, said she stopped getting the bus to work several years ago because it would take her an hour and a half.
It comes as Bristol Live launched a campaign for Better Buses for Bristol last month. We are demanding an end to almost continual cuts to buses in the city now, and for the longer term solution, we are calling on the Metro Mayor Dan Norris to start the ball rolling on taking back control of the buses in Bristol and creating a franchise system.
