Petition Update: Over 1,200 Signatures — But Our Fight Is Not Over!
First of all, a huge thank you to everyone who has supported our petition so far. We have now reached over 1,200 signatures, and we are incredibly grateful to every member of staff, colleague, and supporter who has taken the time to stand with us. Our support shows just how much the NHS staff shuttle service means to our hospital community.
But despite this overwhelming show of support, the NHS Trust is still going ahead with its decision to suspend the staff shuttle service from the beginning of December 2026. We cannot allow this to happen without continuing to fight for what is essential to so many of us.
🚨 We Need to Act NOW!
The Trust has indicated that the service is not being used enough between 10am and 2pm. However, this does not reflect what many of us are experiencing. We have seen an increase in staff using the shuttle throughout the day, and the service continues to play a vital role in helping colleagues travel safely and efficiently between King George Hospital and Queen’s Hospital.
The shuttle is not just about passenger numbers during a particular four-hour window. It is about the needs of staff working different shifts, including early mornings, late nights, and everything in between. It is about staff safety, wellbeing, reliable transport, and ensuring that our colleagues can get to work and move between our hospitals without unnecessary difficulties.
What about the staff who depend on this service when public transport is limited? What about those who rely on it to feel safe travelling to and from work? And what about the impact on patient care when staff face additional transport challenges?
Are we really expected to accept the loss of such an essential service despite more than 1,200 people speaking up?
What Comes Next? Do We Have to Consider Strike Action?
It is deeply disappointing that, despite the growing support and genuine concerns raised by staff, the Trust appears determined to proceed with this decision.
What is next? Will staff be left with no option but to consider further collective action, potentially including strike action?
Nobody wants the situation to reach that point. We all want to focus on caring for our patients and supporting our colleagues. But staff voices must be heard, and the concerns of those who rely on this service cannot simply be dismissed.
Our shuttle drivers are also part of this fight. Their jobs and livelihoods are at risk, and they deserve to know that the service they provide and the contribution they make to our hospital community are valued.
Take Action Now!!
There are several practical ways you can help protect the shuttle service:
1. Sign the petition if you have not already done so. If you have signed it, ask a colleague, friend, or family member to sign as well.
2. Share the petition widely through staff groups, social media, messaging apps, and workplace networks. Please include a short explanation of why the shuttle matters to you.
3. Contact the NHS Trust directly and ask it to pause the suspension, review the decision, and meet with staff representatives. Explain how you use the shuttle, how its loss would affect your safety or ability to work, and why the service is needed throughout the day. Keep your message respectful, specific, and focused on the impact on staff and patient care.
4. Record and share evidence of demand. Note when you use the shuttle, which route or journey you take, and how the service supports your shift or work between hospitals. Share this information with staff representatives or the petition organisers so that the Trust has a clear picture of actual usage.
5. Support the affected drivers. Thank them for the service they provide, share messages of support.
6. Stay informed and involved. Follow updates from staff representatives and campaign organisers, attend meetings where possible, and encourage colleagues to participate in any lawful collective action that may be announced.
We are calling on the NHS Trust to reconsider its decision, listen to its staff, recognise the increased use of the service throughout the day, and commit to keeping the NHS staff shuttle running.
We should not have to fight this hard to protect a service that supports staff safety, wellbeing, and the smooth running of our hospitals.
Over 1,200 signatures and counting — our voices deserve to be heard.
Please sign, share, contact the Trust, document your experiences, and stand with us. Every action adds to the pressure for a fair and lasting solution.
Together, we can keep fighting. Together, we can make a difference. And together, we must do everything we can to save our staff shuttle service!
#SaveOurStaffShuttle 🚌💙