Latest news with #PaulaGardner
BBC News
09-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Shrewsbury park-and-ride hospital buses to be made permanent
A hospital park-and-ride service will be made permanent in Shropshire after a successful and Telford Hospital NHS Trust started offering bus journeys to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in January, using an existing staff said the route would remain free until it became permanent from 19 May, at which point users would be charged £1 per return journey. People with a disabled person's bus pass and children under the age of 16 will be free, if accompanied by an adult. Interim chief nursing officer Paula Gardner said the trust had been "really pleased with the feedback" from people during the and visitors will be able to use the buses at any time from 06:20 until 21:25, and they will run between the Oxon park-and-ride car park and the hospital's main services will leave every 15 to 20 the hospital advised passengers buses would be busy before 10:00 and after 15:00, because staff would be using is currently no service on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Powys County Times
08-05-2025
- Health
- Powys County Times
Shrewsbury hospital park & ride service to be made permanent
The Park & Ride bus service at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) is be made permanent after a successful trial. The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), Shropshire Council and Arriva launched the trial in January, allowing patients and visitors to use the existing staff bus service. Now, they will have full access from Monday, May 19, with a return journey costing £1. Holders of a disabled person's bus pass and children under the age of 16 will be able to travel for free. Buses will run every 15 to 20 minutes between 6.20am to 9.25pm from the car park at the Oxon Park & Ride site to the Treatment Centre, which is the current main entrance of the hospital. RECOMMENDED READING: There is currently no service on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. 'We have been really pleased with the feedback from our patients during the trial and we are delighted to be able to offer this as a permanent option going forward,' said Paula Gardner, interim chief nursing officer at SaTH. 'We know that having an alternative to trying to find a parking space on site has been the biggest benefit to our patients. 'This is a great service for those who are able to use it. Using the Park & Ride is quick and easy and has the benefit of freeing up spaces for those who need to park at RSH. 'We will continue to look at all the ways we can improve parking on-site at our hospitals, leading to a better patient experience.' Heather Kidd, leader-elect of Shropshire Council, added: 'I'm delighted that this trial service has proved to be both successful and popular and that it will shortly become permanent. It really does mean that patients and visitors don't have to worry about driving to, or parking at, the hospital and I hope people will continue to make good use of it in the future.' Buses can be used any time from 6.20am to 9.25pm. People are advised that, as it is also a staff service, buses before 10am and after 3pm will be busier.
BBC News
23-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Shropshire hospital clothing scheme gets patients moving
A hospital clothing scheme that motivates patients to get up, get dressed and moving is appealing for donations from the Donate2Motivate project from Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) sees clothing donated to its two main hospitals for people who may not otherwise have access to garments while on the Trust said stocks were running low, and appealed for loose fitting and comfortable clothes that could be worn during the day."With patients being able to get dressed and moving, it can help with their recovery," said Paula Gardner, interim chief nursing officer. "It is known that if patients are inactive and stay in bed all day this can lead to a decline in mobility and muscle strength."If you are popping to hospital for an appointment and can make a donation, please do – it will be greatly appreciated and will make such a difference for our patients." The trust said: "The majority of patients who do not have access to day clothes are often over the age of 60, may come from a nursing home, have been admitted unexpectedly, have no family or friends close by or no family or friends at all."Lynette Williams from the trust said that thanks to the service, if properly stocked, patients could select outfits just like at home."One patient who was living with dementia really enjoyed using the wardrobe on wheels and when they selected a sparkly jumper and leggings commented 'I haven't felt like a princess for years' and was line-dancing with staff down the ward," she of all sizes are welcome, but particularly clothes in sizes small to medium. Jumpers, t-shirts, trousers, jogging bottoms, long shorts, comfortable day time dresses, skirts and tops are accepted, while items like jeans, dressing gowns and underwear are not. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
06-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Shrewsbury and Telford hospital parking costs set to rise
Car parking charges for patients and visitors at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust are to rise for the first time since fees will be in place at the Royal Shrewsbury (RSH) and Princess Royal (PRH) hospitals as well as the William Farr House in Shrewsbury and will begin on 7 trust said the increases were due to rising costs, essential upgrades and investments in alternatives to parking such as a park and ride service.A spokesperson added the increases would ensure they could cover the costs of maintaining and running the car parks. What are the new charges? Up to 20 minutes - free (no change)Up to one hour - £4.00Up to two hours - £5.50 (£2 increase)Up to three hours - £6.50 (£2 increase)Up to four hours - £7.50 (£2 increase)24 hours - £9.50 (£1 increase)The spokesperson said they believed the increases were in line with other hospitals and any surplus would be reinvested into their car parking and front line services. Are the charges for everyone? Currently there are exceptions to the charges for certain groups of people and the trust spokesperson said they would remain the same after the include:Blue badge holdersPatients receiving cancer treatment or renal dialysisPeople visiting for issues connected with bereavementParents of sick childrenThose who attend hospital frequently What alternative travel is available? "The trust is continuing to invest in new schemes that will improve parking for everyone including trialling a new patient park and ride at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital," said Paula Gardner, the trust's interim chief nursing park & ride trial is running until 18 April and there are also bus services in the town that stop at or near the hospital on their trial scheme runs from Oxon park and ride in Shrewsbury to the hospital between 10:00 and 15:00 is no park and ride service to get to the PRH in Telford but the trust previously said that it would wait and see how the trial in Shrewsbury worked to see if it could also work for the are bus services that stop at PRH's main entrance. How have the car parks improved? The trust spokesperson said they have introduced various methods over the past 12 months to improve car include:Improving line painting and creating new spaces on unused landStaff park and ride schemes to free up parking spacesNew cameras to help manage demandNew parking machines"These improvements are being phased in across both hospital sites and William Farr House over the coming months," they are also plans to increase electric car points and cycling facilities. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
