THE hospital hopper shuttle bus that runs between hospitals in Worcester and Redditch is being scrapped.

The free service which gives patients, visitors and staff the chance to travel between the Worcestershire Royal Hospital, in Worcester, and the Alexandra, in Redditch is coming to an end because not enough people are using it.

It will end this Friday.

A spokesman for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: "We would like to thank everyone who has used the ‘Hospital Hopper’ shuttle bus service between the Alexandra Hospital and Worcestershire Royal Hospital during the pilot period over the last six months.

“We have been monitoring usage over this time and unfortunately the number of passengers who have used the service has been too low to make it financially viable longer term.

"Therefore we have made the decision to not extend the pilot."

They added: “However, we are pleased that an alternative Community Transport option will be in place from early September.

"These will be on-demand services and will enable patients to travel to Worcestershire’s three acute hospitals from their local communities at a subsidised cost."

The full details of this will be announced soon.