Nursing heroes left to wait at bus stop
Nursing staff working on the front line have slammed a bus service to and from Ayr Hospital.
Fed-up staff claim they have been left waiting for up to an hour waiting on the 347 bus outside the hospital because of the infrequency of the 347 service which rus from Rankinston to the hospital.
One concerned passenger, who spends more than £100 per month on the service, said: “All we are asking is for them to bring the service forward and do something about it.”
Now Doon Valley councillor John Bell has taken up nurses’ concerns and urged SPT to introduce a more flexible evening timetable.
It comes after Mr Bell said some staff,who are working 12-hour shifts on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic, have to wait up to an hour before boarding the bus. The bus arrives at the hospital at about 1.30, 3.30 and 5.30pm with the next bus at 8.30pm.
Councillor Bell said: “Hospital Staff who have been on duty since 7.30am and have just worked 12 hour shifts, have to wait for an hour in the bus shelter. So these key workers end up having their already long working day extended, seemingly unnecessarily.”
The 347 service is operated by Kilwinning-based Shuttle Buses, but ultimately it is SPT who are responsible for the timetable.
It travels from Kerse Terrace, Rankinston, then to Drongan and the likes of Coalhill, Coylton, Ayr Hospital and the town’s Douglas Street.
A SPT spokesman said: “We are very mindful that any changes to the 347 service timetable could negatively impact on staff and visitors to Ayr Hospital, as well as the communities it serves.
“We need to consider all passengers and the impact on later bus services to the hospital. We are working with the bus operator to monitor the number of passengers travelling, we would be happy to review the service again should there be any significant change in usage or demand.”