Improvement to hospital bus services

Access to health services have been enhanced thanks to collaboration between Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire County Councils, Hywel Dda Health Board and Silcox Coaches.

The public bus route between Haverfordwest and Carmarthen, route 322, is operated by Silcox Coaches without subsidy from the Local Authority.

Due to the relatively low numbers of passengers using the service it was at risk of being withdrawn.

With the changes to health services and the greater number of people required to travel to Glangwili Hospital it was important that the 322 bus service was retained.

Pembrokeshire County Council worked in partnership with Silcox Coaches and Hywel Dda Health Board in order to introduce a number of initiatives to enhance the service and make it more sustainable.

The route has now been extended to serve the hospitals directly and is now an easy access bus improving the travel experience for all passengers.

Whilst serving shoppers to Haverfordwest and Carmarthen the bus now also serves both Glangwili and Withybush Hospitals making it ideal for people attending hospital appointments or visiting friends and family.

Peter Llewellyn from the University Health Board said: “It is essential that we work collaboratively to improve patient access to health services in Pembrokeshire. We are already seeing the benefit of this partnership approach to patients across the county by working with colleagues from the Local Authority and Voluntary Sector with further developments planned.”

The County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transportation, Councillor Rob Lewis, added: “We are pleased to have been involved with this scheme and to work closely with the Health Board and the other organisations to improve public access to health services in the county.”