Stranded

A number of local residents are feeling the pinch as our local health service tightens patient amenities.

A shuttle bus service offered to patients, relatives and visitors travelling between Shellharbour, Port Kembla, Wollongong and Bulli Hospitals ceases to exist, effectively leaving a number of people stranded with no way of getting to appointments.

Mt Warrigal residents Ruth and Fred Egan said they have both relied on the shuttle bus service in the past to get to Wollongong Hospital.

Both suffer poor health and say the loss of such an important amenity to the community is not only frustrating but a serious risk to their ongoing state of health.

With no alternative but to rely on their daughter, who has her own family, to drive them to hospital appointments the couple view the loss of the shuttle bus service as a loss of their independence.

Ruth said she received no notification the service would cease, she was simply on the bus one day when the driver announced to her the bus would not be running anymore.

Unable to walk to the hospital from a bus stop or railway station to the hospital Ruth said most medical practitioners advise against using public transport alone after a procedure anyhow.

As long time residents of the Illawarra, the couple have been in their Mt Warrigal home for 40 years, the couple say they would like to see the situation rectified, not only for themselves but also for the number of other people who regularly utilised the service.

They say if it meant they had to pay for the previously free service they would be happy to or if South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Health decided to ask patients to book their spot on the bus in advance they would also be happy to abide by this also.

A spokesperson for South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Health said the restrictions to the service are a result of the need for mechanical repairs on one of the buses and a second bus being damaged in a motor vehicle accident.

The spokesperson said a replacement bus is on order.

They stressed there is no change to the bus service provided for hospital outpatients.