Community transport pilot for Rochdale borough residents goes live

Rochdale and Manchester Community Transport

From the 2 April 2012, Rochdale Community Transport and Manchester Community Transport are working together to provide an evening service for Rochdale Borough resident hospital visitors who need to travel between Fairfield Hospital, Bury, and Royal Oldham Hospital, during hospital evening visiting times, Monday to Friday.

The 6 month pilot will use existing voluntary, community and private transport services, but will have one single point of contact which is pre-bookable up to 48 hours in advance. The service will pick visitors up from their home, drop off at either, Fairfield Hospital, Bury, or The Royal Oldham Hospital and then collect visitors to return them back to their homes.

The transport bureau service is being provided in response to visitor feedback saying how difficult it is to gain access to transport in the evening.

Any Rochdale borough residents who need to visit patients in Fairfield or Royal Oldham can use the service for a standard fee of £3.20* return or £2.00* single.
*During pilot, as at April 2012 and costs may be reviewed.

The evening transport service is available to pick up from and return to your home, Monday to Friday.

The evening transport service will operate Monday to Friday between 6.00 pm and 9.00 pm.

It is available to any hospital patient visitor who lives in the Rochdale borough. All passengers will be required to pre-register with the service. It is free to register and only takes a few minutes.

Depending where you live, it should take less than one hour to be transported from your home to the hospital.

The pilot scheme is being co-ordinated and provided by Manchester Community Transport and Rochdale Community Transport. It is supported by NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale and Transport for Greater Manchester.

The service uses existing voluntary, community and private transport and you only have to contact one telephone number to book the service.

It’s important to use it, because local people have said there is a need for this service. So, if it’s successful, it may become a permanent service for local people in the Rochdale borough.

Wherever you live in the Rochdale borough, there is a standard fee of £3.20* return or £2.00* for a single journey.
*During pilot, as at April 2012 and costs may be reviewed.

To pre-book this service call 0161 223 6711
Pre-book up to 48 hours in advance.
Evening service available - Monday to Friday between 6.00 pm and 9.00 pm

If you have any further questions about the service please contact the NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on freephone 0800 121 4430.