PATIENTS are missing hospital appointments because cuts to bus services mean they are unable to get to them on time – if at all – it has been claimed. 

Service 40, which runs from Bridport Hospital to Yeovil, is one of 28 bus services to be affected by Dorset County Council’s decision to cut subsidies for 35 services across the county to just seven last month. 

West Dorset is ‘particularly worse off’ campaigners say, after services axed under the council’s cuts in July also included the 212 Dorchester to Yeovil, the 311 Blandford to Dorchester, the 44 Bridport to West Bay and the 201 Bridport to Litton Cheney.

The Number 40 bus is currently operated by Dorset County Council as a temporary measure as looks to work with transport operators to secure a long-term solution.

One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, says the service is in danger of being lost for good as it is currently ‘unreliable.'

She said: “There was a petition when the council said it was stopping the 40 because it’s such an important bus. At the moment nobody knows what’s what. The bus is constantly late and people are told to get off and change. I had to get a taxi four mornings in one week last week because the bus was so unreliable. 

“I know a disabled lady who had to get a taxi and she missed her hospital appointment. It’s chaotic. People are getting taxis instead of using the bus because it’s unreliable but now we’re concerned that it looks as though nobody uses the bus and so they'll get rid of it altogether.

“We have had that little bus for years and years and now people are having to get taxis to hospital appointments. It’s affecting people’s lives.”

West Dorset Western Area Transport Action Group (WATAG) recently held a public meeting that was attended by more than 250 concerned residents worried about their transport options – and fears were raised that things will get worse from September, when decisions will be made as to whether temporary contacts will be taken on permanently.

WATAG chairman Bob Driscoll said: “We have had lots of concerned residents come to us and unfortunately we have heard there have been issues to do with people missing their appointments. 

“We were given proper notice about the other services that were being cut but with the 40 there was no consultation at all. It caught a lot of people by surprise. People are struggling.”

David Redgewell, of Bus Users UK, said: “People rely on this transport and the system has been ill-thought out. The council has desecrated the transport system and we need to put pressure on the council, on our MP and on the transport minster to make changes."

Chris Hook, Dorset County Council’s service manager for Dorset travel, apologised for ‘teething problems’ with the service.

Mr Hook said: “We’ve had some teething problems at the start of the service, but hopefully these have been ironed out now. 

“We are sorry for any inconvenience caused during this time, but we have stepped in at short notice to cover this service temporarily until a more permanent solution can be found with a commercial bus operator. 

“We have been monitoring the route using the vehicle telematics which will be shared with future operators.”