With the new year here, colleagues may be starting to think about new routines too, including how to save money on fuel and mileage, and getting to and from work.

We have been speaking to our Park and Ride expert, Senior Facilities Manager, Andy Mould, about the service, and some of the questions our colleagues have been asking recently.

“The Park and Ride service has been running for about two years now and it is well used by colleagues. Around 500 journeys are taken on the two services every day, and since we launched the service almost 158,000 journeys have been taken on all our shuttle buses, including the trip between HRI and CRH. The good news is that there are still spaces available at both the Eureka and Cedar Court sites.

“As our timetables allow for different shift patterns, one thing we often get asked, especially now the darker days are here, is about how safe it is while you are waiting for the bus or walking from the bus to the car. There are lots of things we have put in place to reassure colleagues as safety is so important. For example, the drivers will wait until people are in their cars before leaving when it is dark. In the mornings you have the option to wait in your car and the bus will flash its lights on arrival so you don’t have to wait in the dark. We also have regular security patrols and CCTV coverage at both car parks.

“I know colleagues have been sharing feedback on how handy the Park and Ride is, especially as it takes the stress out of driving and searching for parking! But there are other things we have brought in to help make the service better, such as our Transport WhatsApp group. On the group we share news of accidents on the bypass, delays due to roadworks, or other information affecting services.

“My main message would be to just give it a try, you’ve got nothing to lose.”

Shuttle Bus Driver, Stephen Cousins, (pictured) joined CHS last year to be a part of the team, having always driven for a living. He said: "I especially enjoy the Eureka runs. It’s so nice to be able to get staff where they need to be quickly and safely. They work long hours doing a brilliant job, so any extra time they have at the hospital before their shift for a coffee or to get changed has got to help them." 

For more information about how to use the Park and Ride service, or to join the WhatsApp group, visit the intranet: Park and Ride - CHFT Intranet