An NHS boss has pleaded for patients and visitors to use public transport when travelling to Southampton General Hospital to help ease pressure on the busy site.
Andy Hyett, chief operating officer at University Hospital Southampton (UHS), made the appeal while discussing the challenges of getting people to and from the hospital.
Speaking at the trust’s annual members’ meeting, Mr Hyett said: “A plea while I'm in a public meeting, if you could use public transport, please do, it helps us.”
He said UHS works with local bus operators to improve routes into the city and has a “very successful” park and ride scheme for staff.
The trust is also looking at providing more care away from the main hospital site, reducing the need for some patients to travel there.
Mr Hyett said: “We run services in Lymington, at RSH (Royal South Hants) and other sites.
“We have Adanac Park where patients need to come in for an endoscopy but don't need to come into an acute hospital.
“Perhaps we can take the service to them where parking is better at the same time.”
The plea follows improvements to bus connections serving the hospital earlier this year.
In August, the Bluestar 16 was extended to run to Southampton General Hospital via Southampton Central railway station, Hill Lane and St James’s Road, creating a new cross-city link.
Bluestar said the extension meant more people now had direct access to the hospital without needing to change buses.
Jacqui Rayment, Labour councillor responsible for transport, said: "Reliable, frequent and affordable bus services make a real everyday difference, whether people are travelling to appointments, visiting loved ones, getting to work or studying and this extended route will make those journeys simpler and more convenient."
As well as the 16, Southampton General Hospital is on Bluestar’s 7, 17, 19, 19a, U6, U9 bus services.
UHS encourages people living nearby who are able to do so to walk or cycle.
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