Fresh talks on bus route

A DIRECT bus route to the new University Hospital might be possible after Member for Noosa Glen Elmes and Noosa Councillor Ingrid Jackson met with Translink executives this week.
Mr Elmes and Cr Jackson met with Minister for Transport representatives and TransLink senior executives to call for the needs of Noosa to be included in the strategic planning of hospital transport.
“I have been concerned for some time as to how Noosa patients and their families will access the new $1.8 million state of the art hospital in Birtinya, as many will be left to rely on public transport,” Mr Elmes said.
“Currently there is a review into the provision of public transport services to the new hospital, however this review does not extend to Noosa.
“The reality is that, while the Noosa Hospital, whose future has been guaranteed by the LNP, will continue well into the future, the public patient services provided by the new super hospital for cancer, renal and mental health treatment centres and specialist surgical services – including cardiac and neurosurgery – are in a different league, and should be easily accessible even if you do not live in Maroochydore or Caloundra.”
Cr Jackson first raised concerns about the lack of consideration for the Noosa public who will need to access the new Sunshine Coast University Hospital in Kawana and said the delivery of health care services right across the Sunshine Coast would be subject to a number of significant changes as part of the hospital’s opening, and would affect a number of patient groups.
“Maternity services (with the exception of midwifery) and acute care services will relocate from Nambour to the new hospital in Birtinya, which will have a significant impact on young mums, their new babies and their families,” she said.
“Vulnerable members of our community such as the elderly, may find themselves in a position where neither they nor their partners are able to drive to and from the hospital, placing pressure on extended family and friends and making an already stressful situation worse. Many people will need to catch a bus to get there at an already stressful time.”
Noosa is nearly 50 kilometres from Birtinya by car, but to travel to the hospital using the existing bus network will mean a two-hour trip taking a bus from Noosa to Maroochydore bus station and then a different bus to the hospital.
“This will be onerous for patients and their families,” Cr Jackson said.
“Engaging both Translink and Queensland Health will be pivotal to the development of a solution, and while an express service from Noosa to the hospital would be ideal, it is apparent cost will be of concern.”
To address the concerns of cost, Mr Elmes said he would request a meeting with the CEO of the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service, Kevin Hegarty.
“It will be the next step in Cr Jackson’s and my campaign to ensure residents in the Noosa Shire and the Noosa electorate will have an efficient and acceptable level of access to the new hospital when it opens in April 2017,” Mr Elmes said.