BUS services taking patients to and from Wirral’s main hospital are “inconvenient, lengthy and time-consuming”, it’s been claimed.

Councillors in the Wirral South area have expressed their concerns over public transport taking passengers from the area to and from Arrowe Park Hospital since service changes were brought in last autumn.

According to a notice of motion to be discussed when the full council meets next week, it has meant services are less frequent but also now indirect – because of a “complex” deal negotiated between Merseytravel and bus companies.

The notice of motion said: “We consider it totally unsatisfactory that residents face journeys that might involve changes in New Ferry or Birkenhead Bus Station, adding extra journey time, stress and the possibility of additional costs to their journeys.

“Whilst some work has been started on ways to alleviate or tackle this situation […], the issues have not yet been resolved.”

The notice was first heard at the Wirral South Constituency Committee meeting on June 21. It followed a shake-up of services in Wirral in September 2017 that saw seven routes axed, meaning many people now have to take two buses to get to their appointments.

The notice of motion was proposed and seconded by Eastham Lib Dem councillors Dave Mitchell and Phil Gilchrist and had cross-party support from the constituency committee.

The notice of motion also called upon council leader Cllr Phil Davies to “take this issue up” with the Liverpool City Region Transport Committee and Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram “with a view to restoring a better and more direct service to Arrowe Park Hospital from those areas of southern Wirral most affected”.

It asked that Cllr Davies “takes steps to look into and raise these concerns and helps set up and progress meetings between Wirral South members, along with officers that serve the Liverpool City Region at a senior level”.

This would help problems experienced by people in Wirral South, and staff requiring “convenient and reliable services”, it said.

Responding to the notice of motion, a Merseytravel spokesman said: “Over the last two years, Merseytravel has carried out bus network reviews in each area across Merseyside, looking at the way in which both commercial and supported service reflect modern working and living patterns, along with new developments.

“The budget for supported bus services has become increasingly limited due to financial challenges faced by the local authorities which fund Merseytravel.”

He said in some areas of the country, councils are dealing with challenges by opting to remove all their supported services, “leaving communities with no bus service at all”.

But he said: “We are not doing that. By working innovatively through our bus network reviews and together with the commercial operators via our Bus Alliance, we have endeavoured to ensure that all areas have access to bus services, although this may in some cases mean the need to interchange and use more than one service.

“While we understand the concerns raised by both residents and local councillors in south Wirral, unfortunately there are currently no plans in place for any extra provision to Arrowe Park Hospital.”

Wirral Council was also contacted for comment.