State Member for Wallsend, Ms Sonia Hornery MP, is calling on the Health Minister to reinstate the park and ride shuttle bus from McDonald Jones Stadium on a permanent basis, after it was revealed that the shuttle would operate today for the Hunter Medical Research Institute Open Day.
Traffic at the John Hunter Hospital campus is gridlocked at certain times during the day and patients are forced to walk great distances from their cars to their appointments.
The shuttle bus was well utilised and provided a unique, free service that catered to people with mobility issues or limited financial means. It also reduced the traffic around the Hospital campus which meant staff and patients were able to exit the campus quicker.
Quotes attributable to Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery
“The fact that the shuttle is operating today shows how useful the service is in reducing parking and traffic issues at the John Hunter Hospital campus.”
“We have seen the traffic conditions at the Hospital worsen in the 2 years since the removal of the shuttle service, with delays on a daily basis of more than an hour for staff, patients and visitors trying to exit the campus.”
“Today we see that the Hunter New England Local Health District has deemed necessary for the shuttle to be in place for the HMRI Open Day because parking will be at a premium and traffic will be in gridlock around the campus.”
“The community would like to see the shuttle reinstated on a permanent basis to ease traffic gridlock and allow staff, patients and visitors to be delivered right to the Hospital’s front door.”
“I call on the Minister and the Hunter New England Local Health District to listen to what the community is saying and reinstate the shuttle.”