A new provider is to take over the buses transporting staff, patients and visitors to Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH), promising increased passenger capacity and enhanced communication.
NUH has awarded the Medilink contract to Nottingham-based firm, Skills Motor Coaches, which will take over management of the buses from September.
The firm will run double decker buses every 15 minutes, increasing the number of passengers that can travel , alongside the introduction of a new fleet of low emission diesel buses and live tracking mobile app.
Josephine Tomlinson , Head of Property at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We are delighted to award this contract to Skills, a local firm with a strong record on reliability.
“Skills’ commitment to bigger buses to carry more people throughout the day, new vehicles and an app to track buses promises real improvements for our patients and visitors.”
From September the new Medilink service will run on a loop between Queens Drive Park and Ride, Queen’s Medical Centre , Wilkinson Street and City Hospital, utilising all existing bus stops every 15-minutes.
Rupert Skill, Head of Sales and Contracts, Skills Motor Coaches, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have been awarded the contract to operate the Medilink service for Nottingham University Hospitals — a vital connection that helps NHS staff , patients and visitors get to where they’re needed, day in and day out.
“ As a local, family-run business with a long-standing presence in Nottingham, we’re proud to support the NHS and the many staff , patients and visitors who rely on Medilink every day.
“ Our focus is simple: consistent, high-quality journeys delivered by a professional team using new, high-capacity Euro 6 double-decker vehicles — all designed to make travel straightforward and dependable for those who rely on it.”
Skills Motor Coaches will take over the contract from current provider CT4N.
Josephine said : “We would like to thank current provider CT4N for their many years of providing the service to our community.
“We are continuing to work closely with CT4N to make improvements to the Medilink service until September , including timetable adjustments to improve service reliability and boosting vehicle capacity in non-term time. Vehicles that are currently out of the service are being repaired and should return the fleet shortly. ”
