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It cost £350m and is often heralded as the future of healthcare for the Gwent area, but getting to the Grange Hospital if you don’t drive is difficult to say the least.
The new hospital opened in Cwmbran last year. Caerphilly County Borough residents travelling by service bus have to go via Newport.
The 470-bed hospital, located in Cwmbran, houses the main Accident and Emergency department for the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board area, which includes Caerphilly County Borough.
The health board has previously said most patients are taken to the Grange in an ambulance because the hospital treats seriously ill patients and those with significant injuries.
This seems to ignore the fact that patients need to have visitors and those who have out-patient appointments.
So what’s next?
At a full meeting of Caerphilly County Borough Council on November 17, the authority’s deputy leader, Cllr Jamie Pritchard, confirmed that discussions were ongoing to introduce a bus route through Nelson, Ystrad Mynach, Blackwood, Pontllanfraith, Newbridge and Crumlin.
In response to a question from Cllr Etheridge, Cllr Pritchard, whose role includes transport, said: “I have been engaged in constructive talks with the Aneurin Bevan Health Board, Transport for Wales, operators, officers and the Senedd Member for Caerphilly, who approached me in my cabinet capacity to discuss potential bus services to the Grange University Hospital.
“These talks are still at a preliminary stage, but Transport for Wales have supplied myself and all parties around the table an indicative map they’re considering. Whilst discussions are still at any early stage, I can confirm that a potential cross valley route to travel through Nelson, Ystrad Mynach, Blackwood, Pontllanfraith, Newbridge and Crumlin is being considered.”
What about the Caerphilly basin area?
At the moment there isn’t anything on the horizon for a direct link from the Caerphilly town area. The only option is for people to continue to get a bus to Newport and then change for a route to the Grange – as is the current case for the rest of the county borough.
Cllr Pritchard told the meeting that the number 29 Newport bus runs from Friars Walk in Newport to the Grange Hospital.
He said: “The estimated journey time is 26 minutes. Notable bus services from within Caerphilly Borough to Newport include the number 50, 56, and 151. The current situation is not something that I’m content with, so In order to advance talks further, more meetings are in the pipeline.”
He added: “I recognise that public transport to the Grange University Hospital is an issue that some members have also raised in the press and have actively supported.
“As is usually the case with any proposed changes, many discussions take place prior to announcements being made. It is my job as Cabinet Member for Infrastructure to work to ensure all avenues are pursued, so I will keep members updated.”
Cllr Etheridge said: “It is important that all residents of the county borough are treated equally.”
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‘Transport to Health’ service launched
In July this year, the health board launched its “Transport to Health” project – a partnership with the voluntary sector which offered grant funding to provide transport to hospitals.
The Parish Trust, based out of St Thomas’ Church in Trethomas, managed to secure £10,000 to launch a minibus service to take residents of Caerphilly, Bedwas, Trethomas, and Machen to both the Royal Gwent Hospital and the Grange.
The scheme, which launches in December will run as a pilot for six months with an aim for it to become self-sustainable.
Throughout the pilot scheme, passengers will be required to pre-book their place. The cost will be a flat fee of £3.75 – regardless of whether it’s a single or return trip.
The bus will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays making multiple round trips between 8.30am and 4.30pm.
Caerphilly Senedd Member Hefin David supported the Trust’s application.
He said: “Since the opening of the Grange in November 2020, my office has received numerous concerns that people are being advised to go to the Grange for certain treatments, but are unable to get there.”
He added: “This is a key issue within my constituency at the moment and I fully support this application by the Parish Trust, to try and ease the problems of residents. If I can support them further in any way I would be delighted to do so.“
Rev Dean Aaron Roberts, the Chair of Trustees, said: “The Parish Trust is committed, as a Christian-based organisation, to meet the felt needs of the area we serve. It is a core Christian value that people should be well looked after in a holistic way.
“We are honoured to be able to help the health board in some small way by providing access to the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual care available at the hospitals that can be logistically difficult for residents to visit by using our minibus. We’re truly thankful to the grant funders who have supported us, and to Hefin who has also shed light on why this service is vitally needed.”
For more information about the Parish Trust’s service visit theparishtrust.org.uk/bus
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