'We want better bus services to get to the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital'

The West Midlands Pensioners' Convention said it will be writing to bus companies, health chiefs and Transport for West Midlands (TFWM) after receiving complaints from some bus passengers about issues getting to the hospital in Smethwick since some departments were transferred there.

The group has also welcomed recent discount ticket offers amid moves by operators in the region to put up fares by a recommended 8.6 per cent due to rising costs following an independent review which TFWM would be required to introduce.

West Midlands Pensioners' Convention assistant regional secretary Brian Allbutt said: "We have concerns about routes in and out of the hospitals across the region, but in particular we would like to see improved links from parts of Sandwell and from Birmingham to the Metro hospital. With the closures of some departments at the Sandwell General and the City hospital, passengers especially the older people need  straightforward bus routes to get there.

"We would like bus operators to take a look at these as we think there is room for improvement. There is a shuttle every 30 minutes from West Bromwich Bus Station, but since the new hospital opened there have been complaints that overall that bus services are inadequate and that the operators, the transport authorities and the Black Country Integrated Health Board need to carry out a review of the bus services to take the hospital changes into account.

"We are going to be writing to the parties about our concerns.

"We have been involved in the campaign for franchising services with the new mayor Richard Parker also backing it. We believe in a few years' time franchising routes will bring about big changes to the way the system works. At the moment operators decided which services they drop, without notifying anybody, but under the the system being proposed they would have to inform Transport for West Midlands.

"You may recall that about two years ago there was a big campaign to save the Walsall to West Bromwich 4 and 4A services after Diamond Bus were going to scrap them. In the end the authorities subsidised them. Under franchising West Midlands Combined Authority will have control over routes, time tables and fares which should make things better for passengers going forward."

West Midlands mayor Richard Parker has insisted that franchising services was better for passengers and has expressed frustration over the fare increases after earlier this month agreeing a landmark deal to bring buses back under public control for the first time in 40 years. 

From June 15 increases are coming in for a range of tickets and passes including the four-week fare, used by those who commute on a daily basis, which will go up from £64 to £70 and the monthly direct debit fare rise from £59 to £64.

The increases also come amid a raft of National Express Midlands Services have being withdrawn, replaced or changed from this week. Those being changed to increased buses include the 48A service from West Bromwich to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital via Bearwood.

Responding to the route changes Express & Star reader BaggiesMike7912 posted: "Completely pointless change with 48A. It will just mean people up hills in Warley have less service, big walk down huge sloped roads to access 54 or 48. The 48 being more frequent is pointless as many people along that route need access to Smethwick, but it doesn't go there.

"It's a big walk to 48 for many to access a bus to Warley Woods and Bearwood for shops and community events and 25 minutes walk to access Smethwick for trains, main library and council facilities. It's two buses for me to access Bearwood or Oldbury takes well over 40 minutes when a car is 10 minutes direct.

"It Doesn't encourage anybody by me to use the bus. No links by me to Aquatics Centre or Galton Bridge. So much for integrated transport. No thought for old disabled and those with shopping -  my local bus does very little and doesn't run evenings. Clearly the people making changes own cars and no idea on walking distances. Like to see them carry shopping that far."