PROPOSED cuts to a crucial bus service in Droitwich have been labelled "another nail in the coffin" for the town's elderly and sick.

It has been revealed direct bus routes from the town to Worcestershire Royal Hospital could stop from the middle of this month.

Instead bus numbers 22 and 22A are set to terminate in Worcester city centre and passengers will have to catch another bus to the hospital.

It has also been revealed services might be run less regularly - leaving Droitwich every two hours instead of every hour.

The announcement has caused uproar among Droitwich councillors and residents, who have already had to put up with plans for several other cutbacks in transport.

"It is absolutely ludicrous that they are stopping this direct route to the hospital," said Droitwich town councillor John Cook.

"The knock-on effect this will have for patients in Droitwich is going to be huge. They are either going to be late for appointments or will have to turn up at the hospital ridiculously early.

"This is another nail in the coffin for the town's elderly and sick people. They are still reeling from the shock of being told several other bus services could be cut or axed, and from having valuable travel tokens taken from the under 80s."

Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff also expressed his disgust at the latest announcement.

"I will be working hard to persuade the county council and the local health service that Droitwich people must have a direct service between their town and the hospital," he said.

"Droitwich has lost its hospital, it has no community beds and its new health centre is threatened. Is it too much to expect local people to be able to get to their hospital by bus?"

First, which operates the services, declined to comment on the plans, saying many of its services were being reviewed this week.

It may not be all doom and gloom for hospital patients living in Droitwich however.

As revealed in the Evening News last month, a new community project entitled Royal Rides will provide transport to the Worcestershire Royal Hospital for people in the town who cannot make it any other way.

Patients registered at one of Droitwich's three GP surgeries will be able to call on the services of a minibus and driver from later this month.

For more information call 01905 779778.

How will the changes to the Number 22 and 22A bus services affect you? Call Suzanne Black on 01905 742263 or email sb@thisisworcester.co.uk