A PETITION has been launched calling for the continuation of a shuttlebus brought in to take patients to James Cook University Hospital after services at the Friarage were downgraded.

The petition urges health bosses to maintain the shuttlebus service which links the Friarage in Northallerton and James Cook in Middlesbrough.

It was introduced as a pilot scheme in October 2014 by NHS Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) after consultant-led maternity and children’s services were downgraded at the Friarage.

The service was extended until April 30. The CCG says no formal decision has yet been made about its future, but many North Yorkshire residents fear it is to stop.

The petition states: “This bus is such a vital link between the two sites for the people of this town, the elderly, people with children, people who can’t drive. Whether it be for an appointment or visiting a sick relative these people need this bus.

“The government have taken so many services away from the Friarage hospital that we are left with no choice but to go to James Cook.”

The petition so far has more than 700 signatures.

A spokesperson for the CCG said they understood how much the service was valued, particularly by patients and trust staff travelling between the two hospitals, adding: “The CCG and the trust are therefore continuing to evaluate the current service and can confirm that no decision has yet been made in regards to a further extension of the current contract.

“We appreciate that during this time, some confusion and anxiety has been felt by users of the service, however we must emphasise that the current bus service will continue to run as normal until a formal decision is made.”

North Yorkshire county and district councillor John Blackie said not only did the shuttlebus service look threatened, but he said a poster produced by South Tees NHS Trust was informing parents that children could only be treated at the Friarage’s A&E for minor injuries such as cuts and bruises and in emergencies should go to other hospitals.

Cllr Blackie added: “We have the first A&E in the UK with an age limit.

“That’s not been done in agreement with the scrutiny of health committee.”

South Tees NHS Trust said the changes to children using A&E had been made at the time when the paediatric unit was downgraded in 2014 and were a result of there being no paediatric beds for children using A&E.

A spokeswoman said: “We were just reiterating changes made in 2014. There’s nothing different. It had been made really clear. We did a leaflet drop to every house in Hambleton and Richmondshire area and we explained it to the overview and scrutiny committee.”