A FREE weekday shuttle bus service between the Alexandra and Worcestershire Royal Hospitals is to start running this Wednesday, (February 1).
The hourly ‘Hospital Hopper’ service, provided by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (WAHT) will carry patients, visitors and staff between the two sites – whether for an appointment or visit friends and relatives in hospital.
Billed as a pilot service, it will run until Friday, April 21.
Caragh Merrick, chairman of WAHT said: “At the recent public meeting in Redditch we came away with the clear message that transport between the two hospitals is what the local community wanted. We are absolutely delighted the Hospital Hopper pilot is getting off the ground.”
Karen Lumley, MP for Redditch, said: “This is a pilot scheme and the Trust will monitor demand over the next few weeks, so I really do urge residents to use the service. If the demand is there I am hopeful the facility will be maintained, and may even be increased.”
The Hospital Hopper will leave both sites hourly, on the half hour, from 7.30am to 10.30am and 1.30pm to 4.30pm every weekday, excluding Good Friday and Easter Monday. On launch day, February 1, the first buses will leave each site at 1.30pm.
