CAMPAIGNERS fighting to keep a free hospital shuttle bus are devastated to lose their long-running battle.

The service runs between Northallerton’s Friarage Hospital and James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, and helps patients, families and carers travel between the two sites.

It was set up by the Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby Clinical Commissioning Group in October 2014 following the downgrading of maternity and paediatric services at the Friarage, and later allowed other patients and staff to use the service.

At the CCG’s governing body meeting today (Thursday, May 26) it was decided the service will stop from the end of June in line with budget cuts it was forced to make.

It currently travels between the two hospitals ten times per day Monday to Friday, and is currently free of charge to all passengers – at a cost of £90,000 a year.

Marie Davies, who works in the pharmacy at James Cook Hospital, but lives in Northallerton, saw how valuable the service was for patients.

“I’m absolutely devastated – I don’t think the public have been listened to at all,” she said.

“I think they had already decided to stop the service before the meeting – but it is so well used and needed by elderly people, young families without cars, and cancer patients needing chemotherapy.

“I use the bus to get between the two hospitals too and speak to the patients using it so I know how vitally important it is."

Ms Davies started a petition which gained around 1,500 signatures and handed it to Richmond MP Rishi Sunak.

Mr Sunak said he was disappointed the service was to be stopped – but welcomed the commitment by the CCG to make alternative travel arrangements for children, families and carers who needed to get to James Cook University Hospital.

“The decision is disappointing but the CCG has promised to protect the service for the people whom the shuttle bus was originally introduced to serve.

“From the outset, it was my priority to protect children and their families and I am glad that the CCG has kept its word on that point.”

Mr Sunak said he had also been in contact with the operators of an existing commercial bus route currently running three buses a day each way between the two hospitals about extending its X80 service.

Dr Charles Parker, local GP and Clinical Chair of HRW CCG governing body, said: “We appreciate this decision will be disappointing for some patients.

“We are collating details of alternative transport options.

“As a CCG covering a huge area, we have to ensure we spend money on services fairly, and we know the service was not running to full capacity.

“Therefore, in comparison to other service the CCG funds, we decided the £90,000 was better used in other areas.”

For information on patient transport call 0300-330-2000, or for patients on low incomes visit http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Pages/Travelcosts.aspx.