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Bus route ‘cause of near misses’
HOSPITAL and ambulance bosses are meeting to address concerns after a number of near-misses involving buses and ambulances outside the city’s hospital.
A new bus route dropping passengers off at the front of Peterborough City Hospital came into operation two weeks ago.
Since then patients and visitors to the hospital have claimed that they have seen a number of near misses between vehicles.
Chris Jubb, who was a recent patient at the hospital, in Bretton Gate, said: “There are no dropped kerbs to facilitate getting a wheelchair or stretcher patient to safety quickly from an ambulance, instead the only one there is is right in front of the main entrance where it is busy and crowded and where taxis and members of the public constantly park.
“There is no official parking for these ambulances and they daily have to struggle to park in an inadequate lay-by that until recently was used by all and sundry to park.
“If this is not dangerous enough, a bus stop was opened yards from the main entrance recently, which is lovely for the passengers, but a total nightmare for the crews as the road is not wide enough to accommodate everybody and creates congestion.
“On average a bus goes past the main entrance every minute and a half.
“A scary scenario for both staff, patients and their relatives and considering it is a new building, totally inadequate.”
A spokeswoman for Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said the trust was working to create a specific, non-emergency ambulance parking bay between the hospital’s main entrance and the emergency department.
She said: “We are now establishing costs and timescales for the works.
“This move is designed to give the patient transport ambulances a designated area close to the front of the hospital. It will also mean the drop-off area outside the main entrance can be used for its original purpose and will be a no waiting area.
“In the meantime, we are arranging a meeting with the East of England Ambulance Trust to discuss ways we can work differently in the short term in order to avoid any congestion at the front of Peterborough City Hospital.”
An East of England Ambulance Service spokeswoman added: “We are working closely with the Peterborough Hospital to address issues that have arisen and welcome any initiatives in the short and long term that may resolve the situation. We look forward to discussing these at the upcoming meeting.”
Philip Norwell, commercial manager for Stagecoach, said that no-one has reported any incidents of near misses to them. He said: “The expansion of the route is something we have worked on with Peterborough City Council and Peterborough City Hospital.”
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Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
