Student's legal bid over NHS bus

Thousands of people signed a petition to save the shuttle bus

A pregnant student has launched a legal challenge after a health trust axed a free bus between three hospitals.

Lawyers for Maria Rossiter, 18, of Crawley, have written to Surrey and Sussex Healthcare giving the NHS trust seven days to reinstate the service.

They say Maria cannot afford transport to the hospital in Redhill and so must use a "less specialised" GP surgery.

The trust, which previously said the shuttle bus was underused, said on Monday it was taking legal advice.

The free bus link had served Crawley and Horsham hospitals and East Surrey Hospital in Redhill.

The service has cost the trust nearly £1m over the past three years Andrew Hines Surrey and Sussex Healthcare

Maria's father, Phil Rossiter, said the "brave decision" of a "young mum-to-be" would be welcomed and supported by many residents and NHS workers who used the bus.

He said the challenge by his daughter, who is due to give birth in March, was being paid for by legal aid.

Ms Rossiter's antenatal care included fortnightly checks for the first eight months of her pregnancy, and weekly checks in the last month, he added.

The solicitors' letter demands that the trust reverses its decision and launches further consultation by the end of this week.

Before the service ended, the trust's Andrew Hines said: "The facts speak for themselves... the service has cost the trust nearly £1m over the past three years.

"From our point of view that's money we really would expect to spend much better on direct patient care rather than on a bus service that is running almost empty."

Thousands of campaigners signed a protest petition to keep the service before it was axed.