Decision details

The Chairman invited Mr. Robert Newton and Mr. Mike Gee from the Finchley Society Environment & Transport Committee and Ms. Gill Green from Friends of Finchley Memorial Hospital to the table to present the results of a survey undertaken by The Finchley Society and the Friends of Finchley Memorial Hospital in relation to the distance between Finchley Memorial Hospital and existing bus stops in the area.

In introducing the report, Mr. Newton advised that the aims of the survey were in line with the Mayor of London’s Local Implementation Plan.

Outlining results from the survey, Ms. Green noted that most GP Services have a bus stop nearby, and noted that the future GP Services on site at the Finchley Memorial Hospital would increase demand for a bus stop.   

Mr. Gee advised the Committee that in order to reduce the number of people using cars to get to the hospital, the transport arrangements needed to be improved.  Mr. Gee noted that whilst a bus diversion would be unlikely, a dedicated service could be considered.  Referring to the report, Mr. Gee advised that Finchley Community Transport had proposed the idea of a circular “hoppa” bus route that could include the North Finchley Bus Station. 

The Chairman informed the Committee that she had undertaken a mini survey with Peter Cragg, a member of the Finchley Memorial Hospital Estates Group in early March, and that the survey had noted the following:

·         That a large proportion of people attended the Walk-in Clinic in cars;

·         That if it was raining, people would be more inclined to use a car than a bus or walk.

The Chairman noted that the survey undertaken by The Finchley Society and the The Friends of Finchley Memorial Hospital had not asked how long people had had to walk from their home to the bus stop where they had begun their journey. 

A Member of the Committee noted that the survey showed that there was a clear desire for a bus service. 

A Member of the Committee noted that he had walked from the nearest bus stop to Finchley Memorial Hospital and advised that the walk could be challenging for people with physical problems. 

A Member advised that he had walked from the nearest bus stop to Finchley Memorial Hospital in 3.5 minutes.

The Chairman advised the Committee that the GPs had not yet moved into the site at Finchley Memorial Hospital and noted that that the GPs being in residence was key to the viability of a self-sufficient bus service.  The Chairman also suggested that any professional surveys conducted into the possibility of a bus service should be conducted once the GPs had moved in to give an accurate picture of demand. 

A Member questioned when the GPs would be moving into the premises at the Finchley Memorial Hospital.  The Chairman advised that this date was still not known, but that she was continuing to raise this question with NHS England, who are responsible for commissioning GP Services.  The Chairman reminded the Committee that at the meeting of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 12 March 2014, Dean Patterson, the Head of Property and Asset Management at Community Health Partnerships had advised the Committee that as the Head Leaseholder, he was prepared to Commission a survey to gauge demand for a bus service when the timing was appropriate.

RESOLVED that:-

1)    The Committee thank Mr. Robert Newton, Mr. Mike Gee and Ms. Gill Green for their presentation;

2)    The Committee request that the Environment Committee consider this topic and the reports as set out the agenda item.